Hawkeyes searching for answers following road loss to Cyclones

AMES, Iowa — The tables are starting to turn in the Cy-Hawk Rivalry following Saturday’s clash, and now there are more questions than answers for the Hawkeyes.

After all, Iowa State made the necessary plays down the stretch, exposed several issues on Iowa’s offense, and won a 16-13 thriller. The loss snapped Iowa’s six-game win streak at Jack Trice Stadium, but Coach Kirk Ferentz was proud of his players’ intensity throughout the afternoon.

Losing by three points on the road is a tough pill to swallow, and despite it happening against a ranked team, it’s going to be about the Hawkeyes responding to adversity. The Cy-Hawk Trophy will remain in Ames for a second-straight year, and Ferentz has now lost three of the last four meetings against the Cyclones.

“Just a disappointing outcome for us, and I don’t think it had anything to do with preparation or effort,” Ferentz said. “I thought the preparation was good during the week, and our effort was good today, both teams played very hard.”

The 72nd edition of the series was a defensive slugfest, and Ferentz knew Coach Matt Campbell would bring the physicality in the trenches. Iowa (1-1) got off to a slow start, and didn’t deliver in the clutch, after going scoreless in the first and fourth quarter. Iowa State never trailed in the contest, and even built a double-digit lead in the second quarter. The crowd of 61,500 didn’t make life any easier for the Hawkeyes either.

That’s why Ferentz appreciates the measuring stick, and understands what it’s going to take for Iowa to get better before entering Big Ten play. There are some positive aspects from the game to build on too. The Hawkeyes battled back from a 6-0 deficit, and the game was tied at 13 entering the fourth quarter.

Iowa led Iowa State in plays, first downs, rushing yards and time of possession. That means the game could’ve went either way to Ferentz.

“It certainly hurts, it always has, always will in the locker room, and it’s not going to go away for a while, but we have to go back to work tomorrow,” he said. “Basically what I explained to the guys is that it’s a 12-week season, it’s not two games.”

Quarterback Mark Gronowski struggled early on, but was able to get into a groove as the game went on. He completed 13 of his 24 passes for 83 yards and an interception. Gronowski was also sacked three times, including twice on Iowa’s last drive. The offense was inconsistent at best, with incomplete passes and dropped balls. Although Gronowski scored the Hawkeyes’ only touchdown of the contest, he didn’t get the tight ends going in the aerial attack, and Ferentz is putting that on the coaching staff.

“Certainly improved and did a good job leading us with some tough circumstances out there, but I thought he (Gronowski) really did a good job,” the  70-year old said. “The biggest step forward was that he was a lot more comfortable as a quarterback today.”

Iowa only put up 214 yards of total offense, which was similar to the numbers Brian Ferentz had in his last season with the program. Not to mention the Hawkeyes only averaged a mere 3.4 yards per play. Ferentz knows that type of production won’t cut it in conference play, and there’s urgency in improving in that department.

Ferentz couldn’t believe the defense didn’t create more turnovers. The unit was physical, and battled, but at the end of the day the Hawkeyes didn’t produce any sacks on defense. Either Iowa State’s offensive line is that good, or Iowa’s defensive line needs major work in pass rushing. Still, Iowa’s defense limited Iowa State to 238 yards of total offense, and 14 first downs. Linebacker Jadren Harrell had a team-high, nine tackles, including six solo and forced a fumble. Xavier Nwankpa and Karson Sharar each tallied seven stops.

Kicker Drew Stevens nailed two field goals from 31 and 36 yards out. He was ready if his number was called late in the second half, but didn’t get an opportunity downthe stretch. Regardless of the matter, Ferentz is putting this loss in the rearview mirror and moving forward with intentions of using all of Iowa’s shortcomings as motivation.

“Can we use this to be a better football team moving forward, that’s where we’re at right now.”