Northwestern Wildcats Fall To Iowa on Homecoming

The Northwestern Wildcats seek to get back to their winning ways after a shutout loss at Michigan last week., the team’s first defeat of the season We are live blogging today’s Homecoming game against Iowa at Ryan Field. Follow all the action here.

1ST QUARTER:

Iowa leads 9-0 at the end of one. The Wildcats have struggled on offense thus far, with only one first down in the first stanza and only compiling 28 yards on offense.

2ND QUARTER:

11:46 - A Northwestern punt is shanked and the Hawkeyes takeover in Wildcat territory at the 41. It was a 28-yard punt. The Hawkeyes move swiftly on the drive. On the third play, Wadley Akrum finds the edge of the field and gets to the Northwestern 4-yard line, setting up a first-and-goal situation. He scores on the next play. Iowa leads Northwestern, 16-0 at the 10:15 mark.

9:20 - Quarterback Clayton Thorson makes it happen with his feet, finally getting the Cats in Iowa territory with a 13-yard scamper on 3rd and 10. He follows it immediately with a pair of completions that find the Cats at the Iowa 33. Then, a nice spiral to Mike McHugh gets the Cats to the 9.

6:18 - Christian Jones gets open on the next play and catches a 4-yard TD pass from Thorson. The extra point is good, and the Cats have cut the Iowa lead to 16-7.

6:02 - Northwestern intercepts a pass and returns it deep into Iowa territory. Henry with the 20-yard return and Northwestern is at the Iowa 25.

3:09 - The Cats get to the Iowa 2, but can’t punch it in on a couple of power runs and a pitch on third yard play. Jack Mitchell connects on a 20-yard field goal to get Northwestern to within a score, 16-10.

0:51 - Iowa calls its first timeout as the Wildcats face a 3rd-and-17 at their own 18.

0:37 - Iowa went for a punt block, but Northwestern still got off a 36-yarder and the Hawkeyes take over at their own 47. Henry Krieger Coble catch one down the middle to move Iowa to the Northwestern 30.

0:2 - Iowa gets a timeout just in time to attempt a half-ending field goal. Quarterback was being taken down as the clock was winding down. They miss the kick, a 34-yard try, anyway.

HALFTIME: Iowa leads Northwestern, 16-10

During halftime, Ryan Field’s big screen pays a tribute to the 1995 Northwestern football team, which made it to the Rose Bowl. The players were all announced and appeared on the field during halftime.

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Halftime stat highlights: Justin Jackson has 31 yards on the ground for Northwestern. Thorson is 11-for-23 with one touchdown and one interception. Miles Shuler has caught two passes for 17 yards. The Cats have been held to 118 yards on offense.

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3RD QUARTER:

11:02 - Iowa moving the ball swiftly via the run. They are still on the opening drive of the second half and have reached the Wildcats’ 26. Almost all on the ground.

7:41 - Still on the opening drive, Iowa continues this marvelous drive by converting a 3rd-and-5 at the Wildcat eight with a quarterback keeper that advanced the Hawkeyes to the 2.

6:42 - Wadley scores on the next play, a 2-yard rushing touchdown. His third on the day.

6:37 - Northwestern only has the ball for a few plays as Iowa recovers a fumble at the NW 21. Cats need a stop here or the score could get out of hand.

5:26 - No such luck for the Cats. Wadley scores his fourth touchdown on the game, this one again from two yards out. Extra point is good and Iowa opens up a 30-10 lead.

Wadley ties the all-time Iowa record for rushing TDs in a game.

Northwestern hasn’t show any ability to stop the run. With a quarter and a half to go, the only question is will Wadley be able to break the Iowa record and possibly go for a 5th or 6th touchdown of the afternoon.

3:45 - Northwestern’s second drive of the quarter is almost as short as their first. A good punt that takes a Wildcat bounce is the highlight of the half so far. Iowa pinned back to their own 12, but they do have a solid, 20-point cushion.

4TH QUARTER:

15:00 - Thorson runs for 15 yards on the first play of the quarter. He connects to wideout Jelani Roberts on the next play to midfield.

14:19 - But just as it seems things may be heading back in the Wildcats favor, Thorson loses a fumble and the Hawkeyes recover at the Cats’ 45.

11:04 - The Hawkeyes drive to the three, but cannot connect on a pass on 3rd-and-goal. They do connect on a 20-yard field goal to add to their lead, 33-10.

7:55 - Mitchell does a juke move on a 13-yard run to find the end zone. Extra point makes it 40-10.

5:14 - Iowa running the ball to move the clock quicker. Ryan Field emptying out. Most still here are donning the black and yellow.

3:56 - The “Let’s Go Hawks” chant can be heard throughout the stadium. Iowa fans travel very well, and seem to be everywhere.

2:17 - Backup QB Tyler Wiegard has driven the Hawkeyes down to the Northwestern 30, then converts on a 4th-and-4 by giving the ball off to Wadley.

0-19 - Iowa lets the clock run out deep in Northwestern territory.

FINAL: Iowa 40, Northwestern 10