EVANSTON, Ill — Defensive end Chauncey Golston said Iowa defense’s second shutout of the season — which came in a 20-0 victory over Northwestern on Saturday — was in the works before the team even took to the rain-soaked turf at Ryan Field.

Following last week’s win over Purdue, members of the defensive unit said they’ve had some of their best practices of the season so far, giving the defense a chance to spoil Northwestern’s homecoming game.

“A few weeks ago, I said you can beat any team if they don’t score,” Golston said. “Practice this week was something crazy; the tempo was great, everyone’s flying around. We came out and did the same thing today.

The defense’s complete demolishing of the Northwestern offense was a product of both veterans and young players. Of course, the go-to players were instrumental in the shutout with Chauncey Golston and A.J. Epenesa combining for 8 total tackles in the outing. But younger contributors, such as Joe Evans, surprised fans in the defensive masterpiece.

“It’s not like we have a bunch of seniors playing defensively,” Ferentz said. “If we’re doing things right, we’re getting better and improving during the course of the week. That’s something we really try to emphasize with our players… They’re wired into what we’re asking them to do.”

Still, it wasn’t flashy. The crux of the defense’s performance was keeping opposing running backs in front of it, as Iowa was hardly challenged by a struggling Wildcat passing attack. Northwestern averaged a mere 1.8 yards per rush on the ground and only managed to net 64 yards rushing.

The lone forced turnover for Hawkeye defense came in the perfect place. Northwestern quarterback Aidan Smith had a pass tipped up in the first quarter by Hawkeye lineman Brady Reiff, and the ball subsequently fell squarely into the arms of Golston.

The defense’s success has started and ended with the front four this season, so an interception to one of its focal points speaks volumes. Coming into the season, Golston was seen mostly as a supplement and role player in an experienced Hawkeye defensive line. But as the season has progressed — culminating with his performance in Evanston on Saturday — he has turned into an All-Big Ten power on the front. Golston added to the interception with 2.5 tackles for loss.

“Good players get better — that’s what they’re supposed to do,” Ferentz said. “Chauncey’s hardly a grizzled veteran. He’s played on pass-rush situations, but now he’s playing a lot more. It’s fun to be able to watch these guys move in the right direction.”

The defensive line’s performance was kicked up by a notch by another unlikely source. Evans ­— who made the switch from linebacker to defensive end in the spring — is having the stretch of his career. He is several inches shorter than his counterparts on the defensive line, and he’s young as a redshirt freshman, but he recorded his first-career sack in the action.

“It’s been my dream to be a Hawkeye, so it means a lot to me to be able to go in there and get pressure on the quarterback,” Evans said. “It makes it easy when the whole line’s getting pressure on the quarterback, just like they all are doing. A.J. does a really good job, Chauncey. I could go down the line.”

The Iowa defense is on a hot stretch for the ages; it has held six of its eight opponents this year to season-lows in point totals.

With a bye week ahead of it, the defense has time to dissect its performance, which is especially vital with a division rival in Wisconsin looming in just a few weeks.