The Iowa Hawkeyes football team secured a narrow victory over the Northwestern Wildcats in a low-scoring game at the historic Wrigley Field on Saturday. The game was the first Big Ten conference matchup to be played at the iconic baseball stadium since 2010.
Iowa’s defense holds Northwestern to seven points
The Hawkeyes defense was the star of the show, as they held the Wildcats to only seven points and 266 total yards. Iowa also forced two turnovers, including a crucial interception by Riley Moss in the fourth quarter that set up the game-winning field goal by Drew Stevens. Moss, who returned from a knee injury, said he was happy to contribute to the team’s win.
“I was just trying to make a play for my team,” Moss said. “I saw the ball in the air and I just went for it. It felt great to be back on the field and help us get the W.”
Iowa’s defensive coordinator Phil Parker praised Moss for his resilience and performance.
“He’s a tough kid, he’s a competitor, he’s a leader,” Parker said. “He made a big play for us when we needed it. He’s one of the best corners in the country and we’re glad to have him back.”
Northwestern’s offense struggles to find rhythm
The Wildcats offense, led by freshman quarterback Brendan Sullivan, had a hard time moving the ball against the Hawkeyes defense. Sullivan completed 15 of 28 passes for 160 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 24 yards, but was sacked four times. Sullivan’s lone touchdown pass was a 30-yard strike to Cam Johnson in the second quarter that gave Northwestern a 7-3 lead.
Northwestern’s interim head coach David Braun, who took over after Pat Fitzgerald’s resignation, said he was proud of Sullivan’s effort, but acknowledged that the offense needed to improve.
“Brendan is a young guy who’s learning on the job,” Braun said. “He made some good plays, but he also made some mistakes. He’s got a lot of potential and we’re going to keep working with him. We have to do a better job of executing and finishing drives.”
Iowa’s offense does enough to win
The Hawkeyes offense was not much better than the Wildcats, as they managed only 10 points and 275 total yards. Iowa’s quarterback Deacon Hill, who replaced the injured Spencer Petras, threw for 65 yards and one touchdown on 9 of 16 passing. He also ran for eight yards, but lost a fumble. Hill’s touchdown pass was a 15-yard connection with Addison Ostrenga in the third quarter that tied the game at 7-7.
Iowa’s head coach Kirk Ferentz said he was pleased with Hill’s performance, but admitted that the offense was not very consistent.
“Deacon did a good job of managing the game and making some plays,” Ferentz said. “He’s a young guy who’s still learning and growing. He showed some poise and toughness. But we have to be more efficient and productive on offense. We left some points on the board and we have to clean that up.”
Iowa improves to 7-2, Northwestern falls to 4-5
The win improved Iowa’s record to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten West division. The Hawkeyes are still in contention for the division title, but they need some help from other teams. Iowa will face Minnesota next week at home.
The loss dropped Northwestern’s record to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten West division. The Wildcats are eliminated from the division race, but they still have a chance to become bowl eligible. Northwestern will face Purdue next week on the road.
