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Showing posts with label Jordan Lynch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jordan Lynch. Show all posts
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Post Christmas Bowl Games on Thursday feature two MAC programs in action
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Northern Illinois ends losing streak to Iowa with 30-27 win on late FG
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Northern Illinois' Jimmie Ward's interception with 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter set up a Mathew Sims' game-winning field goal, as the Huskies rallied for a 30-27 victory over the University of Iowa football team Saturday inside Kinnick Stadium.
With the score tied at 27, Iowa took over at its own 45-yardline with 1:24 remaining. On the first play of the possession, UI quarterback Jake Rudock targeted senior Kevonte Martin-Manley on an out route on the Hawkeye sideline. Ward jumped the route before returning the ball to the Iowa 30.
The Huskies ran nine yards up the middle on first down and two yards to the left on second down to the 19. With 10 seconds remaining, Sims connected on a 36-yard field goal to propel Northern Illinois to a season-opening victory.
"This was a tough game to lose," said UI head coach Kirk Ferentz. "Give Northern Illinois credit, they did a great job. There were a lot of positive things we saw out there on the field, but the bottom line is we didn't make enough plays to be successful.
"Turnovers are hard to overcome, and we had three of them today. At the end of the day, that makes it hard."
Iowa outgained Northern Illinois, 458-438, in the contest. The Hawkeyes had 202 yards rushing and 256 yards in the air. The Huskies threw for 275 yards and had 163 on the ground.
Rudock finished 21-of-37 for 256 yards with one touchdown to two interceptions in his first career start. Junior running back Mark Weisman had 20 carries for 100 yards, and junior Damon Bullock had 17 attempts for 76 yards. Martin-Manley had a career-best nine receptions for 79 yards.
Huskie quarterback Jordan Lynch, a Heisman Trophy candidate, finished 25-of-41 for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team with 56 yards rushing on 22 attempts. Wide receivers Da'Ron Brown and TommyLee Lewis combined for 12 catches for 174 yards and three scores.
Iowa (0-1) had previously won all eight games vs. Northern Illinois (1-0) in the series, but game nine went to the Huskies on Saturday. It was the first season opener that the Huskies have won, since 1983. Iowa had previously won 12 straight openers under Ferentz.
Senior linebackers Christian Kirksey and Anthony Hitchens both finished in double digits in tackles. Kirksey had a team-best 14 stops, which included a forced fumble and return for a 52-yard touchdown. Hitchens had 13 stops.
After the first half was dominated by the offenses, the defenses took the stage in the second half. Northern Illinois limited the Hawkeyes to 156 yards over the final 30 minutes after giving up 302 yards in the first half.
The two defenses traded stops during the first five possessions and an Iowa interception on the sixth set up Northern Illinois' first points of the second half. After taking over at midfield following Dechan Durante's pick, the Huskies used an eight-play, 44-yard drive to make the score 24-20. Trickery set up the score, as Huskie punter Tyler Wedel scampered 42 yards on an option following a fake punt to the Iowa 9. Iowa's defense stiffened, before Sims connected on 25-yard field goal.
"We had to find a way to make a play," said NIU head coach Rod Carey on the fake punt. "They hemmed us up on offense and we had to do something to get going. We thought we had an opportunity to run it, saw what we did, then waited for the correct time and executed it."
Early in the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes scored their only points of the second half following a 10-play, 44-yard drive. Weisman and Bullock combined for 37 yards on the series to set up Mike Meyer's 44-yard field goal that made the score 27-20 with 6:42 remaining.
Northern Illinois used a quick-strike attack to even the game at 27 with 5:05 left. Lynch completed all five attempts on the drive, which included a 33-yard strike to Brown in the corner of the end zone.
"I give a ton of credit to Iowa," said Carey. "They are a storied program, a great football team and are well coached. They did some things to us today that really slowed us down, and it was really hard sledding."
The Huskies got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. The first score was set up by a Weisman fumble on Iowa's second possession. Northern Illinois moved 23 yards over five plays before Sims connected on a 47-yard field goal to make the score 3-0.
After Iowa's third drive stalled after four plays, the Huskies covered 50 yards in four plays to take a 10-0 lead. On third-and-17, Iowa's Louis Trinca-Pasat was whistled for a hold to set up a third-and-7 from the NIU 43. Lynch found Brown to move the chains before Jones used a triple move to turn around sophomore Jordan Lomax for a 40-yard touchdown catch with 1:37 remaining in the first quarter.
After moving the ball to the NIU 36, Iowa turned the ball over on downs, but the Iowa defense swung the momentum. On second-and-6 from midfield, Lynch completed a screen pass to Luke Eades, where Kirksey popped him to force a fumble, swooped up the ball and raced 48 yards for the touchdown. It was Kirksey's first fumble return for a score and third career touchdown.
"It was a great play to knock it out and have the presence of mind to grab it and put it in the end zone," said Ferentz.
The defense kept the momentum in Iowa's favor with a three-and-out, and the Hawkeyes used a 13-play, 55-yard drive to even the score at 10. Following completions of seven yards to Jacob Hillyer and 14 yards to Martin-Manley to start the drive, Iowa used seven-straight rushes to move the ball to the NIU 13. After the drive stalled, Meyer's 28-yard chip shot tied the contest.
After a second straight three-and-out by the Hawkeye defense, good ole' fashion trickery gave Iowa a 17-10 lead. After taking over at its own 35, Rudock connected with Jordan Cotton for a 53-yard strike on a Weisman-to-Rudock flea flicker to the NIU 12. On third-and-9, C.J. Fiedorowicz and Rudock connected on a jump ball at the goal line to give Iowa the seven-point lead with 6:32 left in the half.
Lynch had an answer, moving the Huskies 75 yards over eight plays to tie the game at 17. After moving to midfield via three rushes and a screen, Lynch used completions of 18, 17, and 21 yards, the latter of which was a 21-yard scoring strike to Lewis with 3:49 remaining.
Iowa took a 24-17 lead into the locker room following an eight-play, 75-yard drive. Bullock opened the series with rushes of seven yards to the right and 10 yards up the middle to the Iowa 42. Rudock followed with a 15-yard completion to Martin-Manley into NIU territory and an additional 15 yards were tacked on following a 15-yard facemask penalty.
The Hawkeyes then converted a pair of third downs to extend the drive. On third-and-4 from the 22, Rudock found Martin-Manley for a 10-yard gain on a sprint out. On third-and-4 from the 6, Rudock scrambled to his left, dove for the pylon to find the end zone.
Iowa had 302 yards in the first half; Rudock was 13-of-21 for 188 yards and a touchdown with completions to seven different receivers. Martin-Manley had six of those catches for 60 yards.
The Hawkeyes (0-1) return to action Sept. 7, hosting Missouri State (0-1) at 11 a.m. (CT). The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
"You play 12 games and we've got 13 weeks in front of us right now," said Ferentz. "What we choose to do with every day and every opportunity will determine the season. We made some mistakes that were tough to overcome, and we're going to have to do better than that."
Iowa will play three more OOC opponents in September. In addition to Missouri State next week, in-state rival Iowa State and Western Michigan, both lost in Week 1.
Northern Iowa (1-0) traveled to Ames on Saturday and upset Iowa State (0-1) 28-20. Iowa travels to Iowa State in Week 3.
Iowa's Week 4 opponent, Western Michigan (0-1) lost 26-13 at Michigan State (1-0) on Friday night.
One game doesn't make a season, but Iowa needs to find a way to shift away from the seven game losing streak against FBS opponents. Iowa will play an FCS opponent on Saturday.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Game Day: Northern Illinois vs. Iowa Hawkeyes in Season Opener at Kinnick Stadium
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Even with a first-year starter making his University of Iowa debut at quarterback today against Northern Illinois, the Hawkeye offense is more comfortable heading into the second year of offensive coordinator Greg Davis' system.
Note: It is the first time in nearly 20 years that an Iowa quarterback is taking his first snaps in black and gold as a starting quarterback in a season opener. Iowa returns six starters on offense in 2013.
"We know how to spit back what he would say," said redshirt sophomore Jake Rudock, the winner of a three-man race to be Iowa's starting quarterback. "He says certain words and we respond in a certain way so he understands.
Rudock was recruited out of Florida by former offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe, who is now in his second season as WR coach for the Miami Dolphins. Last year's QB James Vandenberg had a difficult time transitioning away O'Keefe's pro-set offense into the new Davis system.
"You have to understand that his terminology is the easiest way to talk to him (Davis) and the fastest communication, just like learning a new language."
The Hawkeyes never clicked offensively in 2012, averaging 18.8 points and 286.8 yards per game in the first year of Davis' new offense. With another spring and fall under its belts, the unit has seen progress.
Rudock has two springs under his belt with Davis in Iowa City, after arriving in the fall of 2011. He redshirted in 2011 in O'Keefe's final season as OC.
"We have a better understanding of the offense," said junior offensive tackle Brandon Scherff. "We worked on it during camp and in spring ball. We have to keep moving forward."
Senior tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz says the addition of the no-huddle attack has added a new dimension that will allow the offense to improve and get more opportunities.
"We were comfortable last year, but we added a couple of extra things (this fall), like the no-huddle, and a couple of extra trickery plays," said Fiedorowicz, who was third on the team with 45 receptions for 433 yards and one touchdown in 2012. "The offense is a little different.
"Last year, we got 70 plays per game. With the no-huddle, it will be closer to 80-90 snaps a game."
That will give playmakers like WRs Tevaun Smith, new JC transfer Damond Powell, Don Shumpert, RBs Damon Bullock, Mark Weisman, and Jordan Canzeri more opportunities in 2013. Smith says the Hawkeyes are a faster team, which will help both the rushing and passing attacks.
"There is a lot more speed on offense," he said. "We're able to stretch the field, so we're able to run and pass the ball at the same time. We have the best of both worlds... you don't want to have only a running offense."
Whether it's handing the ball off or directing the team's passing attack, Rudock knows he needs to do the little things to put the Hawkeyes in a position to improve on its 4-8 record from a season ago.
"I have always thought as a quarterback you have to manage the game," he said. "There are going to be plays you make and plays you miss and regret, but that's football. It is an up-and-down sport. (I want to) play and have fun, that's the biggest thing, have fun, and make sure the guys are on the same page and do our best."
Iowa is ready to showcase an improved offense and get back on the field.
"We have been working for eight months, I am ready to play," said Bullock. The junior out of Texas will likely see action as both a running back and in the slot as a receiver in 2013.
"We have been hungry since our last game," said Weisman. "We have been working hard, but all that set aside, now we have to show it on the field." Weisman, a junior from Illinois, played fullback vs. Northern Illinois, with 2 carries for 4 yards. So, if he can maintain the average as a starting running back, how nice would 20-25 carries translate vs. NIU?
For Iowa to be competitive in the Big Ten in 2013, it will start with defense and solid special teams. The season opener and four non-conference games will be important for Iowa in 2013.
After three weeks of training camp, game week arrived on Monday for the University of Iowa football team. The Hawkeyes turned their focus on Saturday's opponent, Northern Illinois, and have been preparing for the Huskies all week.
Iowa is 8-0 the series with Northern Illinois. Kirk Ferentz has won 12 straight season openers, as he opens his 15th season as head coach for the Hawkeyes. There will be plenty of streaks on the line at Kinnick today vs. Northern Illinois.
Northern Illinois (12-2), who have won the Mid-American Conference the last two seasons, return 13 starters on offense (8) and defense (5). The Huskies' main offensive threat is quarterback Jordan Lynch, who made his first career start vs. Iowa last year in the season opener in Soldier Field.
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker has been putting together the game plan this week for his defensive unit. Iowa returns eight starters themselves on defense, lead by a trio of senior linebackers, in James Morris, Anthony Hitchens and Christian Kirksey.
"This is a very talented team (NIU)," said Parker. "They spread the ball out, run a lot of option and also run the quarterback draw, so obviously you have to stop him. You have to make sure you respect all of their players, like we do, and defend the whole field."
Lynch, now a senior, enters this season as the NCAA record holder for rushing yards by a quarterback in season (1,815) and the owner of 14 NIU school records. Heisman winner Johnny Manziel was the only player to gain more yards of total offense than Lynch a year ago.
When it comes to preparing for a dual threat quarterback in practice, Parker credits the Hawkeye scout team.
"I believe our scout team did a great job preparing, and it all starts there," Parker said. "I think the guys have been focused."
In addition to returning an all-American quarterback, the Huskies return an experienced offensive line, returning all five starters from a year ago.
"They have a good offensive line, and I believe our guys are up to the challenge," said Parker. The offensive line is lead by junior LT Tyler Loos, a strong pass blocker in the MAC per Lindy's.
The Huskies will be without returning starting running back, senior Akeem Daniels, who is injured for the Iowa game.
Last year, Northern Illinois had a potent offense ranking 12th in the country averaging 38.6 points per game. Iowa's defense held the Huskies to 17 points, sacked Lynch six times and forced one turnover in its 18-17 triumph in last year's season-opener in Chicago.
Parker said the team is eager to get the season started. The Hawkeyes beat three bowl teams in 2012, including Northern Illinois.
"Our guys are really excited about getting out there in Kinnick Stadium and seeing the support from our fans," Parker said.
Northern Illinois will be making its first visit to Iowa City since 2006. The Huskies have lost their last 14 road season openers since 1983.
Coach Rod Carey is the third head coach in four seasons for Northern Illinois, after becoming replacing Dave Doeren, who left for North Carolina State, ahead of the Orange Bowl game vs. Florida State. Like Ferentz, Carey is a former OL coach, who played center at Indiana.
Special teams should be strong for Iowa in 2013 lead by seniors PK Mike Meyer, KR/DS Jordan Cotton and LS Casey Kreiter for the Hawkeyes. Also, sophomore Connor Kornbrath returns at punter for the Hawks. The question will be how Iowa replaces outstanding CB Micah Hyde, who was also Iowa's punt returner and a gunner on special teams, along with Cotton.
Northern llinois returns senior PK Matthew Sims. A new punter will start in 2013 for the Huskies. KR Tommylee Lewis and PR A.J. Sebastiano both return on the Huskies special team units.
Kickoff is set for 2:42 p.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium in a game that will be televised on the BTN with former Hawkeyes Paul Burmeister, Chuck Long, and Danan Hughes calling the action.
Our Pick: Iowa 29, Northern Illinois 16 - Iowa appears to have improved depth and the overall roster heading into 2013. Star quality may be lower the 2008-2010 period, but overall depth looks stronger.
We shall see over the course of the 2013 season, if the Iowa Hawkeyes are improved.
Bowling Green in the MAC looks to knock off the Northern Illinois Huskies, after three outstanding seasons of double digit victories.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Iowa releases Two Deeps for Season Opener vs. Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium
The Iowa Hawkeyes open 2013 with Northern Illinois on August 31st at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes and Huskies open back to back seasons head to head, after meeting in Soldier Field, last year. Here are the two deeps for Iowa heading into the ninth game in the non-conference series with the Huskies:
WR - Shumpert*, T. Smith
LT - Scherff, MacMillan*
LG - Boffeli*, Simmons
C - Blythe, Gaul
RG - Walsh, Donnal
RT - Van Sloten*, Ward
TE - Fiedorowicz*, Hamilton/Duzey
WR - Martin-Manley, Cotton*/Hillyer
FB - Cox, Plewa
RB - Weisman/Bullock, Canzeri
QB - Rudock, Beathard/Sokol
DE - Ott, Hardy
DT - C. Davis, Cooper
DT - Trinca-Pasat, J. Johnson
DE - Alvis*, McMinn/Meier
OLB - Kirksey*, Perry
MLB - Morris*, Alston
WLB - Hitchens*, Collins/Fisher
LC - Lowery*, Fleming
RC - Lomax, G. Smith*
FS - Miller*, Gair
SS - Lowdermilk, Law
P - Kornbrath
K - Meyer*, Koehn
LS - Kreiter*
H - Kornbrath
PR - Martin-Manley
KR - Cotton*, Canzeri
Iowa's preseason depth chart includes 14 seniors*, 12 of which are projected as starters (includes placekicker and long snapper). Iowa`s 14 seniors listed on the preseason depth chart have started a combined 204 games. Iowa's 13 juniors have started 35 total contests, while its 21 sophomores have started 27.
LAST YEAR's Meeting at Soldier Field
Iowa scored nine unanswered points in the fourth quarter to complete an 18-17 comeback win over Northern Illinois at Soldier Field to open the 2012 season.
The Hawkeyes trailed, 17-9, heading into the final quarter. Iowa's first drive of the frame covered 31 yards in 10 plays and was capped by a Mike Meyer 50-yard field goal, tying his career long. Meyer matched his career best with four field goals and tied Iowa's single game record with five field goal attempts. His efforts earned him co-Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
Senior John Weinke's punt with 5:36 remaining pinned the Huskies at their own 1-yard line and the Hawkeye defense forced a three-and-out. Iowa took over on the NIU 24-yard line, trailing by five, with 3:41 left. Sophomore Damon Bullock broke a 23-yard run on third down for Iowa's only touchdown of the game, giving the Hawkeyes an 18-17 advantage. Iowa would hold the Huskies without a first down on their final drive to seal the win.
Bullock led Iowa's offensive attack, registering 30 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown. Senior QB James Vandenberg finished 21-33 for 129 yards, completing passes to six different receivers.
Iowa's defense held the Huskies to just 54 yards passing and 201 yards total offense. Iowa ran 30 more plays than NIU and dominated time of possession, racking up 38:42.
Iowa finished 4-8 last year, while Northern Illinois finished 12-2, with losses to Iowa and Florida State in the Orange Bowl to open and close the 2012 season.
NIU Rod Carey became the Huskies' third coach in four years, when he was elevated to head coach prior to Orange Bowl, when Dave Doeren became the new coach at North Carolina State. Carey was Doeren's offensive line coach the past two seasons.
NIU returns 13 starters, including all-everything quarterback Jordan Lynch.
Motivation isn't a problem, either for Northern Illinois.
"[The Orange Bowl loss] just gave us a hard edge. Everybody's coming out hard and competing," 2012 All-MAC safety Jimmie Ward said. "... Basically, going into this Iowa game, I feel like everybody's still, since we came off the loss, everybody's still got a hard edge. Everybody's got something to prove."
The Huskies' quest for another BCS game starts Aug. 31 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Most likely, NIU will have to go unbeaten to reach the plateau again. The BCS is certainly a reality now, and expectations are higher than ever for NIU.
NIU has played in three straight MAC title games, winning the last two MAC titles.
However, the team's internal expectations are even bigger. "We have higher expectations for ourselves than anybody outside," Carey said. "And we're striving to meet those every day. And that's why sometimes these guys see me grumpy, because we're not there yet and we want to be there."
"But it's a process, and you've got to love the process and love the grind."
"As for what exactly those expectations are?" Those are for us to know," Carey said with a smile.
IOWA's FERENTZ FOURTH IN LONGEVITY
Now in his 15th season as Iowa's head football coach, Kirk Ferentz ranks fourth in longevity among FBS head coaches. Ferentz is first among Big Ten coaches and nationally ranks behind Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer, Larry Blakeney of Troy and Mack Brown of Texas. Ferentz is tied for fourth with Bob Stoops of Oklahoma.
THE SERIES: IOWA vs. NIU
Iowa boasts an 8-0 record against Northern Illinois, with six of the games being played at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City and two at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Hawkeyes won the previous eight meetings by a 26.9 margin of victory. Iowa won the last meeting 18-17 a year ago at Soldier Field in Chicago. Coach Kirk Ferentz's first victory as Iowa's head coach came against the Huskies in 1999 (24-0). Here are the results:
*9/21/85W48-20
*9/20/86W57-3
*9/28/91W58-7
*11/6/93W54-20
*9/18/99W24-0
*10/24/06W24-14
9/1/07W16-3
9/1/12W18-17
*at Iowa City
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