TAMPA – Passing Offense: A-
This was by far the most efficient game of Mark Gronowski’s season. The South Dakota State transfer completed 16-of-22 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
Simply put, Gronowski was on point. Posting a 73 percent completion percentage and a 174.6 passing rating is the perfect way for him to finish his career.
The only knock I have on the passing game was the interception in the red zone on the second drive of the game. While the interception wasn’t Gronowski’s fault in any way, it takes all 11 players to execute a play, and running back Xavier Williams just couldn’t hold onto the catch.
Rushing Offense: A
Is anyone surprised by this? I know I’m not. The Joe Moore Award winners proved they deserved the award, paving the way for 167 total rushing yards and two scores.
Kamari Moulton led the way with 95 yards and a touchdown, and Gronowski followed with a score of his own and 54 yards.
The Hawkeyes averaged 4.5 yards per carry as a team, and Moulton averaged 6.8 yards. The rushing offense has been a staple of Iowa football all season long, and it continued in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Passing Defense: C
Stopping Diego Pavia is impossible, but slowing him down is possible. The Hawkeyes looked to be doing so through the first half. Pavia threw for 110 yards in the first half with no touchdowns.
Iowa made it a point to pressure Pavia early, sacking the Heisman runner-up four times in the first half. The Hawkeyes only got home on Pavia once in the second half.
Pavia finished with 347 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Receivers Junior Sherrill and Tre Richardson racked up 123 and 127 yards, respectively, with Richardson reaching the endzone on a 75-yard bomb.
Rushing Defense: A
Pavia is not only a threat in the passing game, but with his legs as well. The Hawkeyes did a wonderful job preventing him from creating explosive run plays. Pavia’s longest run was 19 yards, and he added a touchdown.
Vanderbilt running backs Sedrick Alexander and MK Young were held to just 11 yards combined, with Richardson adding four yards on three carries.
Iowa playing with a lead certainly helped eliminate this phase of the game, forcing the Commodores to drop back 38 times.
Special Teams: A
Drew Stevens was only used twice in the Iowa win, but he capitalized on the opportunities. Stevens nailed a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter, and hit a huge 44-yard field goal with just over four minutes remaining to push the Hawkeye lead to 10.
Rhys Dakin had a phenomenal day in the punting game, averaging 49 yards per punt on three kicks. Dakin also pinned Vanderbilt inside the twenty once, and his longest punt traveled 51 yards.
Kaden Wetjen didn’t get the opportunities that Iowa fans wanted, but he was serviceable on kick returns. Wetjen averaged 25 yards per return on kickoff, aiding the Hawkeyes’ field position.
Coaching: B
Iowa was toying with Vanderbilt in the first half, taking a 14-3 lead into the locker room. In the second half, however, it was clear that the Commodores did a better job at making adjustments.
It seemed as though the Hawkeyes were playing not to lose, instead of staying aggressive and playing to win. Regardless, the coaching staff did enough to come away with a win, which is all Iowa fans can ask for.