College Football in Iowa

By Cole Negen

     UNI and #21 Iowa State both kicked off their seasons against one another this weekend in Ames. Both teams defenses showed up ready to go, the score just 3-0 in favor of Iowa State at the end of the first half. The defenses continued to reign supreme in the second half. UNI opened up with a field goal to open up the half, which Iowa State responded to with a touchdown on the next possession. UNI got some handy scoring from their defense with a 53 yard scoop and score by Xavier Williams. In the fourth quarter, Iowa State capped off a 17 play drive to tie the score up 13 all, which it stayed at for the end of regulation. Both teams settled for a field goal in their first OT possession, which included a 49 yard boot from UNI true freshman Matthew Cook, who went 4-4 on the day. Iowa State took little time to score a touchdown in the second OT, which UNI matched with a touchdown of their own thanks to some nifty plays by QB Will McElvain. UNI then opened the third OT with another field goal. Iowa State marched it down to the goal line, where RB Sheldon Croney coughed it up, but was recovered on a game saving play by Brock Purdy, who quickly dove on the ball before UNI defenders could get there. That set up a Sheldon Croney 1 yard touchdown run to seal the game. Final score: #21 Iowa State 29, UNI 26.
     In Iowa City, the #20 Iowa Hawkeyes opened up there season with a game against Miami (OH). The scored stayed pretty even in the first quarter, just 10-7 in favor of the Hawks at the end of 1. But then the Hawkeyes took over. Nate Stanley found his rhythm, he finished with 252 yards passing with 3 touchdowns on a 21/30 completion ratio. Mekhi Sargent lead the Hawkeye backfield with 91 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, and Toren Young threw on a rushing touchdown as well. Oliver Martin, the Iowa City native, made a splash fresh off the transfer portal, catching 1 of Stanley’s 3 TD passes. Miami (OH) struggled getting anything going, as the Hawks played great run defense which was complemented with great secondary play. Final Score: #20 Iowa 38, Miami (OH) 14.

Strickland, Reese. The Gazette. USA Today. <https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/iowa-state-cyclones/photos-iowa-state-vs-uni-football-20190831>.