Nov. 23, 2012
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Nebraska at Iowa Postgame Notes
November 23, 2012
Today was the final game for Hawkeye seniors DL Steve Bigach, DB Greg Castillo, WR Keenan Davis, TE Zach Derby, SS Tom Donatell, OL James Ferentz, DE Joe Gaglione, FB Jon Gimm, CB Micah Hyde, OL Casey McMillan, PK Trent Mossbrucker, WR Nick Nielsen, FB Jacob Reisen, DB Collin Sleeper, WR Steven Staggs, DB Jack Swanson, OL Matt Tobin, QB James Vandenberg, and P John Wienke.
Iowa held Nebraska to a season-low three first-half points; its previous low was six versus Penn State on Nov. 10. The Huskers, who entered the game averaging 37.5 points per game were limited to 13 points today by the Hawkeye defense.
C.J. Fiedorowicz led the Hawkeye receiving corps for the second straight week. The tight end caught six passes for 56 yards. Fiedorowicz registered 14 catches for 155 yards the last two games combined.
PK Mike Meyer missed a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter. Meyer is 17-of-21 this season and 45-of-58 for his career in field goal attempts. He extended his school record PAT streak to 81 today. Meyer, who ranks fifth in Iowa career scoring, increased his career scoring total to 235 points. Meyer’s one point today increased his single-season scoring total to 76 points.
CB Micah Hyde recovered his third career fumble, all this year, off a muffed punt in second quarter. Hyde has been responsible for two takeaways the last two games; the senior intercepted a pass last week at Michigan. DT Louis Trinca-Pasat recovered is first career fumble later in the second period. Iowa was unable to convert the turnovers into points. The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 11-of-12 contests this season and 76 of its last 87 games, dating back to 2006. Nebraska collected interceptions in the third and fourth quarters. The Huskers went three-and-out after the Hawkeyes’ first turnover and ran out the clock after Iowa’s second turnover.The Hawkeyes ended the season with a +12 turnover margin.
All three of Iowa’s starting linebackers reached double-digits in tackles today. LB James Morris tallied 13 tackles today, marking the seventh time this season the junior reached the double-digit tackle plateau. Morris’ tackle total from today moved him past Damien Robinson and into 16th place on Iowa’s career tackle chart. LB Christian Kirksey, who reached 200 career tackles last week, amassed 11 tackles today. Kirksey has been credited with double-digit tackles three times this year. Anthony Hitchens also reached double-digit tackles, the seventh time this season he recorded double-digit stops. He finished the game with 10 tackles.
RB Mark Weisman led the Hawkeye ground attack for the second straight contest. Weisman rushed 29 times for 91 yards.
Iowa was 1-2 in the red zone, scoring a touchdown and missing a 42-yard field goal into the strong wind. The Hawkeyes have scored on 171 of the last 201 red-zone possessions (118 TDs and 54 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Nebraska was 2-3 in the red zone, kicking one field goal, scoring one touchdown, and running out the clock in the game’s final possession.
Instant replay was used twice today.
1) An Iowa pass reception along the sidelines was upheld after review.
2) A Nebraska lateral was reversed after review. Replay showed it as a forward pass after passing the line of scrimmage.
QB James Vandenberg completed his 500th career pass today. The senior completed 11-24 passes for 92 yards and rushed for one touchdown today. Vandenberg finished his career completing 507 passes for 5,786 yards.
Today was Iowa’s second straight game against a ranked opponent this season.
Three flags were thrown in today’s game. Nebraska committed two penalties for 25 yards, while Iowa had one penalty for five yards.
P Connor Kornbrath had a 61-yard punt in the fourth quarter, besting his previous best of 60 yards from last week at Michigan. The freshman kicked five times for 199 yards (39.8 yards), including downing two inside the 20.
QB James Vandenberg rushed for a 1-yard touchdown on Iowa’s opening possession. It is his fourth rushing score of the season and seventh of his career. The Hawkeyes have scored on their opening possession seven times this season. Nebraska kicked a field goal on its opening drive. The Huskers are the seventh Hawkeye to score on their first possession this year.
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer. The Hawkeyes started on offense eight times this season. The Hawkeyes have started on offense in 143-of-174 games. Iowa is 16-15 in the games it has started on defense under Ferentz