Report Card: How did Iowa do against Nebraska?
Iowa’s offense earned a solid grade after manhandling the Husker defensive line all game.
Iowa running back Mekhi Sargent sheds Nebraska safety Antonio Reed’s tackle during the Iowa/Nebraska football game at Kinnick Stadium on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated the Huskers, 31-28, with a last-second field goal.
November 25, 2018
Offense: B+
Iowa’s offensive line owns Nebraska. For the second game in a row, Iowa’s running game looked sharp, with Mekhi Sargent doing the work along with Toren Young. Sargent ran for more than 100 yards for the second-straight game, and Young added 83.
Meanwhile, quarterback Nate Stanley threw a pair of touchdowns and did not throw an interception.
Defense: B-
Iowa got a timely turnover with Michael Ojemudia’s interception, but aside from that, all day long, the Hawkeye defense had trouble with the Husker offense, specifically the passing game.
It helps to have edge rushers such as Anthony Nelson and A.J. Epenesa, but Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez had himself a day, scrambling out of would-be sacks and scoring 3 touchdowns.
Special Teams: B
Miguel Recinos’ game-winning field goal was a feel-good moment for a Hawkeye team that almost lost a game it realistically could have won by 20 points.
Regardless, Iowa did win on a special-team play, which is a plus, but a missed field goal from 37 yards and averaging 36.5 yards per punt aren’t.
