Takeaways as Iowa soccer feels heartbreak in Cy-Hawk for second yr in a row – Hawkeyes Wire

It seems like it’s the similar music on repeat for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2025. The Hawkeyes fell to Iowa State by a late, lengthy subject purpose in 2024, and the 2025 rendition of the Cy-Hawk sport felt like a nasty dream on repeat that they could not get up from.
Iowa fell down 13-3 within the first half of this sport, however battled again to a tie ball sport, gaining all the momentum. Issues had been going Iowa’s manner for many of the second half. Till they weren’t.
Iowa State relied on its veteran QB Rocco Becht to ship within the huge moments late, and he did simply that. His stat sheet might not be something loopy, however the eye take a look at exhibits he commanded this offense and got here up huge when it mattered.
As Iowa falls to 1-1 with a 16-13 loss to Iowa State within the Cy-Hawk sport, try the takeaways from Iowa’s Week 2 sport.
Mark Gronowski was not Iowa’s challenge on this sport. He appeared far more comfy and assured within the pocket at the moment and was pressured to function inside the constraints that the offensive playcalls put upon him. He threw the ball with conviction and hammered away within the floor sport.
Gronowski went 13-24 on the day, however one should issue within the myriad of drops that Iowa had by its move catchers. The interception he threw got here on account of his large receiver slipping on the timing route, permitting the straightforward takeaway.
Gronowski turned a number of sacks into beneficial properties, third and shorts into first downs, and did what he might. The play calls not often allowed him to focus on downfield, and that may be a bigger challenge for the Hawkeyes transferring ahead.
The Hawkeyes gave up 16 factors and 238 complete yards. This is a wonderful effort in opposition to Energy 4 offense. That is adequate to win video games and went to waste.
Iowa held the Cyclones and Rocco Becth to 134 passing yards. After the beginning that Becht received out to this season, that’s extremely spectacular. On the bottom, Iowa allowed simply 104 dashing yards to the Cyclones.
This defensive efficiency was adequate to win the sport, and it’s a disgrace it does not get that reward.
The bottom sport was imagined to be Iowa’s power, and whereas it flashed at occasions at the moment, it was not as efficient as many thought it might be. The Hawkeyes mustered up simply 131 yards on 39 carries for a median of solely 3.4 yards per carry.
The lone shiny spot was Jaziun Patterson churning out the majority of the yards, going for 60 yards on 11 carries. Apart from him, Mark Gronowski, Xavier Williams, and TJ Washington Jr. all had lower than 40 yards dashing and averaged lower than 4 yards per carry.
Jacob Gill had a stable sport, reeling in 5 receptions for 52 yards, however with that got here a number of drops and some routes that he ran in need of the first-down marker. Outdoors of Gill, the Hawkeyes’ large receivers mixed for simply three catches for twenty-four yards.
Mark Gronowski wants a downfield goal, and the Hawkeyes must have a large receiver step up. At the moment, the group was lackluster with drops and an absence of separation.
Let me begin with a really clear assertion: the grass might not at all times be greener. This isn’t a name to eliminate Kirk Ferentz. Iowa might simply develop into a model of Nebraska looking for success for the higher a part of a number of many years in the event that they transfer on from him.
What this sport does signify is a turning level in Iowa’s philosophical stance relating to every little thing. Iowa State has taken three of the final 4. That can start to affect recruiting, NIL, and the switch portal.
It is a turning level for Iowa, and the way they reply might have seismic results for them for years to come back.
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