IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz became the winningest coach in Big Ten history as the Hawkeyes defeated UMass, 47-7, Saturday night on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa outgained the Minutemen 435-119 in total yards.

Quarterback Mark Gronowski completed 16 of 24 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, and added a rushing score.

Nathan McNeil led the Hawkeye ground game with 56 yards on 10 carries. Jaziun Paterson added 54 yards on 10 attempts, and Kaden Wetjen scored on a 20-yard rush.

Sam Phillips led Iowa receivers with 75 yards on three catches. Seth Anderson hauled in two touchdown receptions, and KJ Parker added one.

Wetjen had four punt returns for 182 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown. He finished with 236 all-purpose yards.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

"Overall, really pleased with the effort of our team. I was pleased with the week. I thought our guys got back on their feet starting last Sunday. I thought the effort was good during the week, as far as our preparation, that type of thing. Guys showed up tonight, and I thought they were ready to go.

We made improvement, no question about that. I saw a lot of good things out there, still things we can get better at. Offensively had a little better flow. Mark looked more comfortable. He had a good week at practice, and you see him climbing the ladder each and every week. I'm not surprised by that. He's a tremendous young person and a strong leader for us.

The defense did a good job of limiting the big play, and there were still some things we have to get better at the quarterback, let him outside too often. In the words of Norm Parker, it's about keeping the ball in front and keeping it inside, and we violated that a few times. So still some things to work on.

Then special teams a little bit of a mix. Certainly some things to think oh well, and Drew didn't have the best night of his career, but he'll bounce back. I'm not worried about him.

Kaden Wetjen did a fantastic job. I thought last week he pressed a little too much, was trying to do too much. Just encouraged him to try to relax and be who he is, and when he does that, he's pretty good because obviously he's got great ability. He's fearless back there, and when he gets the ball, he's trying to do something with it, which is really, really special.

Overall, I thought we played clean football tonight. No turnovers in the game. Almost got out without a penalty. Had a young guy jump offsides late. Our general tempo was overall pretty good.

Eager now to flip the page. We'll go back to work tomorrow morning, got a short week. It's going to be great to start Big Ten football. It's always special. Any time you're in a conference, that always means a lot. We're looking forward to a big challenge here going to Rutgers on a short week and playing a good football team. They're very well coached, and it will be a big challenge for us.

Then to follow up on Beth's comments, I'm thrilled and can't believe quite frankly my name's next to that distinction. I want to start by saying it's a real testament to the university and to the program here. I can't help but go back to when I got here in 1981. Nobody would have ever dreamt any of this was possible. We hadn't had a winning season in 19 years at that point.

You think about how far the program's come, Coach Fry's leadership and what he did to improve the program and position things. So an awful lot of things have to go into it to have success. Certainly takes a lot of people. There's no team sport like football. There's so many people involved. I've been fortunate to work with so many outstanding coaches through the years.

Think about the group that I joined in the '80s, just really special people. Coach Fry is the only person who even looked at me at that point, and I'll never forget that, and I'm appreciative of that fact.

You think about a guy like Phil Parker -- I typically don't single people out but I will tonight. Think about Phil being here this entire time, and the great job he's done and the growth he's shown. He's always a great secondary coach. He's become a tremendous coordinator.

Support staff, so critical in our sport, again, because of the numbers. When I got here, I think Rita started working when she was maybe 12 or 8, I can't remember, but she's been here for three head coaches. I've never seen her have a bad day at work. I bring that up in that I think it makes Iowa special. There's a lot of those cases across our campus. For them it's not just a job, they're part of the team. They hurt when we lose and enjoy it when we win. So we've been fortunate to have great support staff.

Then Beth mentioned over a thousand players. I certainly haven't counted, but there's been a lot of players through here, but then you pile on nine years when I was here in the '80s, the common denominator is they've been great people to work with.

We've had a lot of good players, a lot of great players, but they're great people to work with, and they do it for the right reasons. It's just been fun to watch them play in the program and see them become adults. Whether you go back to the '80s, guys here the last 27 years, guys in the locker room, Dallas in there, Toren Young being back here as an honorary captain, that's really what makes it special.

I want to pay tribute to all those players that have made this possible. Our fans have been great. I'm appreciative of that.

Then the last couple things, I've been fortunate to have great mentors during my time. Some were intentional, and others probably didn't even know they were teaching me things, but just had a lot of great mentors growing up. Started with my parents, and then the family aspect here too, and that's been special to us.

My wife Mary and I started our family here in '83, had our first child. Four of our kids were born across the street, and it's been a big part of our existence, if you will. Great to have two of the kids here tonight to be present for it. Three of the boys played in the program. All this stuff goes back to my wife. We started dating in '73. I'd known her for four years prior to that, and why I asked her out in May of 1973, I still can't explain it. We've been partners ever since really.

I think she's only flinched once. That was in Pittsburgh in 1980. Almost screwed that one up. Other than that, she's never flinched. She's allowed me to go out and play every day. So, really appreciative of that, and it's been a partnership all the way.

Anyway, I feel pretty fortunate, and we'll enjoy it here for the next hour and probably go to bed, and get back here tomorrow."

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Iowa needed just three plays to open the game with a score. A three-yard rush, led to a 45-yard connection from Mark Gronowski to Sam Phillips and set up a 20-yard touchdown pass to Seth Anderson.
• After the Hawkeye defense forced a three and out, Kaden Wetjen returned the UMass punt 39 yards to give Iowa good field position. A seven play 39-yard drive culminated with Gronowski connecting with Anderson again. The extra point attempt by Drew Stevens was no good.
• Iowa made it three straight drives with a score using seven plays to cover 52 yards and score on a 20-yard end around rush from Wetjen.
• A blocked punt gave the Minutemen the ball at the Iowa 21-yard line and they used four plays to go 21 yards and score on a six-yard quarterback scramble with 11:50 left in the first half.
• With 9:50 remaining in the first half Stevens connected on a 54-yard field goal to cap a six play 30-yard drive that lasted 1:53.
• Iowa ended the first half with fireworks as Mark Gronowski found the end zone with 26 seconds remaining on a 13-yard touchdown rush. The drive lasted 1:02 over seven plays and 49 yards.
• After a three and out on the first possession of the second half for UMass, Kaden Wetjen took a punt 95 yard to the house.
• With 2:58 left in third quarter the Hawkeyes tacked on three more points after a 16 play, 61-yard drive that lasted 8:11 with a 27-yard field goal from Stevens.
• With 11:04 left in the game Hank Brown found KJ Parker for a 2-yard touchdown pass to put the finishing touches on a 10 play 57-yard drive.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• WR/KR Kaden Wetjen had a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter. The return ties a Big Ten and Iowa record (Michigan State’s Al Brenner at Illinois, 1966 and Iowa’s Bill Happel vs. Minnesota, 1984) and is the longest punt return in Kinnick Stadium history, besting Bob Longley (94 vs. Oregon in 1949).
  • It was his second career punt return for a touchdown and his third career return touchdown (two punt, one kickoff).
  • Wetjen is now tied for second in school history with two punt return touchdowns (with Martin-Manley and Kahlil Hill).

• Wetjen and Tim Dwight are the only players in school history with multiple 80+ yard punt return touchdowns (Dwight 3, Wetjen 2).

• Wetjen finished the with a career-high 216 return yards (182 punt and 34 kickoff) and a career-high 236 all-purpose yards. o The 182 punt return yards are the fourth-most in a single game in Big Ten history, trailing Maryland’s William Likely (233 in 2015), Iowa’s Nile Kinnick (201 in 1939) and Iowa’s Kevonte Martin-Manley (184 in 2013).
  • It was his fourth career game with 100+ return yards as a Hawkeye.
• Wetjen had a 20-yard touchdown run on a reverse in the first quarter for his first career rushing touchdown.
  • Wetjen is believed to be the first player in Iowa history to have a rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return touchdown in his career.
• QB Mark Gronowski completed 16-of-24 attempts for a season-high 179 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown.
  • Gronowski moved past 10,500 career passing yards in the game (10,615) and he has 96 career passing touchdowns.
  • Gronowski has scored a rushing touchdown in each of Iowa’s first three games, giving him 40 career rushing scores.
  • He completed passes to nine different receivers in the game.
• QB Hank Brown completed 5-of-7 attempts for 55 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. It was his first career passing touchdown as a Hawkeye.
• WR Seth Anderson had touchdown receptions from 20 and 3 yards on Iowa’s first two possessions. He had three receptions for 26 yards.
  • Anderson is the first Hawkeye to have two touchdown catches in a game since Reece Vander Zee against Illinois State in the 2024 opener.
  • He is the first Iowa player to have two receiving touchdowns in the first quarter since Maurice Brown had two against Akron on Aug. 31, 2002.
  • It is Anderson’s second career two touchdown game as his first came at Charleston Southern as a freshman in 2022.
• WR K.J. Parker had a 2-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. It was his first career reception and touchdown.
• K Drew Stevens went 2-of-3 on field goal attempts, making from 54 and 27 yards. The 54-yarder was his 10th career 50+ yard field goal (and third career 54-yard make).
  • Stevens did miss from 38 yards, which snapped a string of 15 consecutive makes dating back to last season.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• Iowa scored 20 points in the first quarter -- the most in the opening quarter since Oct. 16, 2016, at Purdue.
• The Hawkeyes had 435 yards of total offense – a season high. 
  • Iowa’s 47 points are the most under OC Tim Lester and the most by the Hawkeyes in Kinnick since 2020 vs. Michigan State (49).
  • It is the second time Iowa has gone over 400 yards under Lester.
  • Iowa rushed for 200+ yards for the second time this season and for the ninth time under Lester.
• The Hawkeyes limited UMass to 34 yards in the first half and 119 yards for the game. o Iowa’s defense had 11 TFL and five sacks in the game – both season highs. o The Hawkeyes have held two of their three opponents under 200 yards and all three under 240.
• Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 331 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 241 times (155-86). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 90 times (51-39).

UP NEXT

Iowa returns to action Sept. 19, traveling to Piscataway, New Jersey, for its Big Ten opener at Rutgers.  The Friday night game will begin at 7 p.m. (CT) and be televised on FOX.