MINNEAPOLIS – Kaleb Johnson ran for a personal-high 206 yards and three touchdowns and scored two more points in a dominant third quarter that led Iowa to a 31-14 victory over Minnesota and returned the Bronze Pig Trophy to the Hawkeyes on Saturday night.
After watching with bitterness as the Gophers knocked off Floyd of Rosedale in Iowa last year in a controversial 12-10 loss that was sealed by a fair catch ruling that nullified a punt return touchdown by Cooper DeJean, the Hawkeyes (3-1, 1-0) had a blast in their Big Ten opener on the home turf of their neighboring rival.
Johnson’s NCAA-leading total yardage through four games rose to 685 yards after the junior tailback turned an impressive performance by Iowa’s offensive line into a personal highlight video.
“I’m just really thankful for them opening up the gaps for me and allowing me to do my thing,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t be Kaleb Johnson without them. I just give credit to my O-line. My O-line got them points, not me.”
Johnson made the most of his 21 runs by outrunning the Gophers to the edges on stretch zone plays and breaking a number of tackles on other interior runs after passing the line of scrimmage.
“It’s the little things. It’s the technique. It’s about being in the right spots,” said Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg, who had 10 tackles and a sack.
Iowa managed over 200 rushing yards for the fourth straight game, the team’s longest streak since 2013, in a dramatic game against a Minnesota defense that had just recorded two straight wins to zero against Rhode Island and Nevada.
The experienced offensive line – left tackle Mason Richman, left guard Beau Stephens, center Logan Jones, right guard Connor Colby and right tackle Gennings Dunker – delivered a knockout punch after some recent struggles against the Gophers.
The Hawkeyes averaged just 11 rushing yards last season and have averaged a measly 141 yards on 81 rushes in their last three games against Minnesota, including yards lost to sacks. Johnson was determined to reverse that trend.
“What I really appreciate is how he really gets involved and puts the team first,” Cade McNamara said. “I think the guys really appreciate that.”
The Gophers (2-2, 0-1) had a clear upper hand in the first half, taking a 14-7 lead with touchdown passes from Max Brosmer to Jameson Geers and Elijah Spencer. The Hawkeyes’ only point came after a 38-yard drive thanks to a Hecht interception by linebacker Jay Higgins in the first quarter.
Iowa then punted four times in a row and went into halftime with just 107 yards. McNamara, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 62 yards, struggled to find his rhythm and several passes bounced off the receivers’ hands while he was fortunate to have no interceptions.
“We sat there at halftime,” Higgins said, “and we knew we were better.”
The Hawkeyes took the kickoff in the second half and scored the tying touchdown after five plays. McNamara started with a 20-yard bootleg pass to tight end Addison Ostrenga. Then Johnson did the rest, aided by a penalty against Lindenberg, who ran out of bounds and was given 15 yards.
Iowa’s next drive went 73 yards in six plays and was capped by a 40-yard run by Johnson where he broke the line and jumped free into the secondary for a 21-14 lead.
“That’s where they want you. Now all of a sudden it’s like a boa constrictor and you better start scoring some points quick,” Gophers coach PJ Fleck said.
Iowa: Overshadowed by the line-of-scrimmage dominance on offense was the Hawkeyes’ front line’s solid performance, limiting the Gophers to 79 rushing yards. The last time Iowa played here two years ago, Mohamed Ibrahim ran 39 times for 263 yards for Minnesota. The Hawkeyes, who lost to rival Iowa State at home two weeks ago, avoided back-to-back losses to Minnesota for the first time since 2010-11.
Minnesota: Brosmer, a sixth-year transfer from New Hampshire, helped the Gophers have their best passing attack in five seasons, completing 17 of 26 passes for 165 yards and the two touchdowns before halftime, tying for the most first-half passes since Fleck arrived in 2017.
“When we gave Max time, he looked really good back there,” Fleck said. “We just have to keep him in rhythm.”
Iowa: Plays at Ohio State on Oct. 5. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 3 in this week’s Associated Press poll, have won their last eight home games in the series. The Hawkeyes last won at Ohio Stadium in 1991.
Minnesota: Plays at Michigan on Sept. 28. The Wolverines, who were ranked No. 18 in the most recent AP poll before defeating No. 11 USC on Saturday, have not hosted the Gophers since a 33-10 victory in 2017.
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