Oct. 27, 2012
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
| AP Photos
Northwestern beat Iowa 28-17 today in Evanston. Each team has defended its home field the last two years in the series (Iowa beat Northwestern 41-31 in Iowa City in 2011).
RB Damon Bullock returned to action today after missing the previous four contests due to injury. Bullock finished the game with 107 yards rushing on 22 attempts and five receptions for 41 yards. Bullock topped the 100-yard plateau the second time this season (150 yards on 30 carries vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 1).
Iowa’s defense collected an interception and a fumble today. B.J. Lowrey intercepted his first career pass in the first period, while Micah Hyde recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes converted the Hyde fumble recovery into seven points. Iowa’s defense has intercepted eight passes this season. The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in seven-of-eight contests this season and 72 of its last 83 games, dating back to 2006. For the fourth time this season, Iowa did not have a turnover (Northern Illinois, UNI, Minnesota at Northwestern).
PK Mike Meyer converted a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter. He is 15-of-18 this season and 43-of-55 for his career in field goal attempts. Meyer made two PATs, extending his school record streak to 72. Meyer increased his career scoring to 220 points to surpass Tavian Banks and Zach Bromert for fifth on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart.
QB James Vandenberg completed 24-of-38 passes for 214 yards and had two 1-yard rushing scores. The rushing scores are Vandenberg’s fifth and sixth of his career. Today marked the first time the senior had two rushing touchdowns in a single-game.
Iowa was led defensively by Christian Kirksey with nine tackles. Tanner Miller added seven.
WR Kevonte Martin-Manley led the Hawkeye receivers today, catching seven balls for 46 yards.
Freshman WR Tevaun Smith had a catch for 16 yards in the third quarter, his first career reception. Jacob Hillyer also recorded his first career reception for 15 yards.
Instant replay was used twice today.
- A Northwestern rushing play that was ruled a touchdown was upheld in the second quarter.
- A Keenan Davis reception was overturned to an incomplete pass following replay in the third period.
RG Austin Blythe returned to the starting lineup today. Blythe, who missed the Minnesota at Michigan State games due to injury, returned to action last week against Penn State in a non-starting role.
B.J. Lowrey started at cornerback for the first time since the Central Michigan game. Lowrey missed the Minnesota and Michigan State contests due to injury. The junior saw action as a reserve last week vs. Penn State. Lowrey finished the game with one theft and three tackles.
Senior Matt Tobin started at left tackle, while redshirt freshman Jordan Walsh started at left guard. Today marked Walsh’s first career start.
Junior Jacob Reisen saw his first game action of the season on special teams today. Also seeing his first game action of the season was DL Drew Ott. Ott becomes the seventh Hawkeye true freshman to play in 2012.
John Wienke had a 37-yard punt downed on the 1-yard line in the second quarter. Wienke has had eight of his 10 punts downed inside the 20 this season.
Iowa was 2-2 in the red zone today, scoring 1-yard touchdowns in the third and fourth periods. The Hawkeyes have scored on 165 of the last 192 red-zone possessions (113 TDs and 52 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Northwestern was 3-4 in the red zone, scoring three touchdowns and losing a fumble. Micah Hyde recovered the fumble, the first of his career.
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer. The Hawkeyes have started on defense three times this season (Iowa State, UNI and Northwestern). The Hawkeyes have started on offense in 140-of-170 games. Iowa is 16-14 in the games it has started on defense under Ferentz.
PK Mike Meyer kicked a 40-yard field goal on Iowa’s opening possession. The Hawkeyes have scored on their opening possession six of eight times this season. Northwestern scored a touchdown its opening drive, converting three third downs on the drive. The Wildcats are the fifth Hawkeye opponent to score on their first possession (Iowa State, UNI Central Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern).
Iowa remains on the road next week when it travels to Bloomington, Ind., to face Indiana. The kickoff time will be announced tomorrow with the game being televised on BTN.