Nov. 29, 2013
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 
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Iowa (8-4, 5-3) defeated Nebraska (8-4, 5-3) today, 38-17, inside Memorial Stadium. It was Iowa’s first win in the series since 1981 (10-7), and its first win in Lincoln since 1943 (33-13).
The win snapped Nebraska’s five-game winning streak in the series.
Iowa took possession of the Heroes Trophy for the first time since it was introduced in 2011. Iowa is 3-1 in trophy games this season, currently possessing the Cy-Hawk (Iowa State), Floyd of Rosedale (Minnesota) and Heroes (Nebraska).
Iowa scored 38 points today, the most points Iowa has ever scored in the series. The 21-point differential was Nebraska’s largest home loss since falling to Missouri 52-17 in 2008.
The Hawkeyes have eight wins this season, a four-win improvement from a year ago. That improvement ranks fourth in the country. Entering today, Auburn (+7), Boston College (+5) and Missouri (+5) had greater win totals year-over-year.
Iowa has four road wins this season, its highest total since 2009 (4).
The Hawkeyes held Nebraska 144 yards below their season average. Iowa’s defense has held 11-of-12 opponents under their rushing average this season.
Iowa held Nebraska scoreless in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes have held 9-of-12 opponent scoreless in the first quarter this season. Iowa has not allowed an offensive touchdown in the first quarter since Week 1 (Northern Illinois).
Iowa led at the half, 14-3. The Hawkeyes have held a halftime lead in 10-of-12 games. Iowa is 7-3 in those contests.
Iowa’s third touchdown drive was a 1-play 24-yard drive (Ruddock to Martin-Manley). It was Iowa’s first 1-play scoring drive of the season, and first since 2012 (Vandenberg pass to Cotton — 47 yards against Minnesota).
RB Jordan Canzeri had a career-high 29 yards receiving. His 29-yard reception in the second quarter was a career long, and set up Iowa’s second scoring drive.
RB Mark Weisman rushed for 72 yards today and now ranks 15th on Iowa’s career rushing list. Weisman has 1,752 career rushing yards. He added two touchdowns. A 2-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter, and a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He has a team-high seven touchdowns this season.
P Connor Kornbrath punted seven times for 282 yards, and average of 40.3. Kornbrath had a long of 55 yards, matching his season long.
QB Jake Rudock was 9-15 for 126 yards and two TDs before leaving the game at the 0:22 mark in the third quarter. He did not return.
QB C.J. Beathard relieved Rudock and finished 0-2 passing and one rushing touchdown (4 yards). Iowa QBs have accounted for seven of the team’s 17 rushing TDs this year.
QB Cody Sokol made his Hawkeye debut.
Iowa was plus-3 in turnovers. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 when winning the turnover margin. The Hawkeyes are 1-4 when losing the turnover margin, and 1-0 when splitting turnover margin. The Hawkeyes are minus plus-1 overall this season.
K Mike Meyer was perfect on five extra point attempts today. He has made a school-record 120 consecutive PAT attempts, which is the fourth-longest active streak in the nation and the third-best all-time in the Big Ten.
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz caught three passes today, including one touchdown, to extend his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 30. Fiedorowicz has 85 catches for 421 yards over the last 30 games, and has caught all 10 career touchdowns during the streak.
LB Christian Kirksey recorded 11 tackles today to become the 17th player in school history to record 300 or more tackles. Kirskey has 308 career stops. Kirksey’s 11 tackles were a team-high. He also forced a fumble and recorded one sack. SS Tanner Miller (11) and LB James Morris (10 ) also recorded double-digit totals in tackles.
LB Anthony Hitchens recorded his first career interception (18 yard return). LB James Morris intercepted his fourth pass of the season (sixth of career). LB Christian Kirksey forced a fumble (fifth forced fumble of career.
Iowa’s linebacker trio has accounted for 10 takeaways this season. LB James Morris has four interceptions and one fumble recovery, while LB Christian Kirksey has one interception, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Hitchens has three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
Instant replay was used three times today.
1) Mark Weisman touchdown (official review: overruled)
Nebraska won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. In 2013, the Hawkeyes are 3-3 when starting the game on offense — Northern Illinois (L, 30-27), at Minnesota (W, 23-7), Michigan State (L, 26-14) at Ohio State (L, 34-24), at Purdue (W, 38-14), and at Nebraska (W, 38-17). Iowa has started the game on offense in 150-of-186 games under Kirk Ferentz, including six times this season.
The Hawkeyes finished the regular season 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the Big Ten. Iowa expects to learn its postseason fate Sunday, Dec. 8. The Hawkeyes have qualified for a bowl game for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons.