IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa football team was defeated by Nebraska, 24-17, on Friday night on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium.

The Huskers outgained the Hawkeyes, 329-274, and forced four Iowa turnovers.

Senior Spencer Petras was 1-for-6 for nine yards before being replaced by junior Alex Padilla due to injury. Padilla was 16-for-33 with 141 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman Kaleb Johnson had 16 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Luke Lachey had seven receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Senior Nico Ragaini had seven receptions for 60 yards.

PHOTOS

QUOTING COACH FERENTZ

“We didn’t do the things you have to do to be successful. Credit our opponent, they did. So it’s to their credit.

Can’t say how proud I am of our guys. They’ve been consistent all the way through the season, given great effort. Never gave up tonight. They fought really hard, especially in that second half. So proud of that.

I think the reality is we just made the hill a little bit too high to climb, and part of that was self-inflicted, and that’s always tough. Any time you struggle with penalties, you struggle with the turnovers, and give up a big play, those are things we really take pride in doing well and didn’t do that tonight. So that is certainly disappointing.

So right now we’ll regroup. We’ll have a little bit more time off this week than we wanted. We’ll regroup. At some point we’ll get together this next week here and get ready to focus on this next game and see if we can’t come up with a victory here for the last time.

Can’t say enough again about our seniors. All of our upperclassmen have done a good job of being leaders, but our seniors, it all starts with them. For those 27 guys to have a chance to walk out there today on that field in Kinnick and meet their families.

Then that stuff in the locker room, the season is not over, but it’s their last time in the locker room, last time in the stadium. I say it every year. I don’t think anyone who plays football doesn’t remember the last game as a high school player and certainly their last game in college, especially at home.

Anyway, just a tremendous group. Really proud of them and proud of the way they’ve led our football team, and proud of all our guys. They never quit. They just keep fighting.

Like I said, today is really disappointing. We’ll get over that. At some point we’ll turn our vision to the next opportunity here.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Huskers scored on a one-play 87-yard touchdown reception by Trey Palmer on their second drive of the game.
• After a Hawkeye turnover Nebraska used a 21-yard field goal by Timmy Bleekrode to cap a seven play 28-yard drive.
• The Huskers got their third score of the game after a three play 39-yard drive ended with an 18-yard touchdown reception by Trey Palmer.
• A muffed punt by the Hawkeyes gave Nebraska the ball with good field position and they capitalized with three plays going 18 yards including 14-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Washington.
• Kaleb Johnson got Iowa on the board with a 44-yard touchdown rush to put the finishing touches on a seven play 75-yard drive.

• Alex Padilla connected with Luke Lachey for a 14-yard touchdown to cap a nine play 90-yard drive with 6:49 remaining in the game.
• The Hawkeyes took advantage of a John Waggoner forced fumble that was recovered by Logan Klemp to set up a 45-yard field goal by Drew Stevens with 5:41 left in the game.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• RB Kaleb Johnson had his third career 100-yard game, rushing for 109 yards on 16 attempts with one touchdown.
  • Johnson had a 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, tying his third longest rush of the season. It was Johnson’s team-leading sixth touchdown of the season.
• QB Alex Padilla completed 16-of-33 attempts for 141 yards and one touchdown – his first of the season – and one interception.
  • Starting QB Spencer Petras was sacked and injured midway through the first quarter and he did not return.
• WR Nico Ragaini tied a career high with seven receptions for 60 yards.
• TE Luke Lachey had a 14-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter – his team-leading third touchdown reception of the season. Lachey had career highs in receptions (7) and yards (89) in the game.
• DL John Waggoner forced a fumble on Nebraska RB Anthony Grant in the fourth quarter – the first of his career. LB Logan Klempf recovered at the Nebraska 27. It was his second career fumble recovery.
• LB Jack Campbell had eight tackles to move into 19th place on the all-time tackle chart with 295.
• LB Seth Benson had eight tackles to give him 251 career tackles – 34th most all-time.
• DL Noah Shannon had six tackles and had a career high 2.5 sacks and one sack.
• K Drew Stevens made a 45-yard field goal with 5:41 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it a one possession game. It was his sixth field goal from 40 yards or beyond this season.  Stevens is 16-of-18 on field goal attempts this season.
• Redshirt freshman FB Eli Miller made his first career start.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• Today’s game was head coach Kirk Ferentz’s 300th as Iowa’s head coach.
• Iowa limited Nebraska to 51 rushing yards in the game. It was the eighth time this season the team has allowed fewer than 100 yards on the ground.
• The Hawkeyes committed four turnovers, which led to 17 Husker points – tied for the most this season.
• Nebraska won the toss and elected to defer; Iowa chose to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 300 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 220 times (140-80). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 80 times (45-35).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will learn their bowl destination on Dec. 4.