Music City Bowl Recap: Iowa Hawkeyes Shut out Kentucky Wildcats

I will be on the same level as you. If you’re here for an in-depth analysis of X and O from yesterday’s game, you’ve come to the wrong place. This season, I’m writing The Morning After late Saturday night after I’ve calmed down the gut reactions and emotions of the Iowa game. I don’t always remember what Lavasse ran for 4 on 3 and 5) or how many Tory Taylor punts went down within 10 yards. .

Add in a healthy dose of New Year’s Eve parties, food and drink, and New Year’s Six bowl games, and it’s a wonder it’s still happening.

But amidst confetti, gin and tonics and the TCU Cinderella run, don’t forget that your Iowa Hawkeyes beat the Kentucky Wildcats 21-0 in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl to finish the year 8-5. . Anyway, there weren’t many offensive fireworks. The story going into the game was what this game would look like between two teams that missed the laundry list of starting quarterbacks and other players.

In a way…it was beautiful. As long as you’re an Iowa fan who loves special teams and defense. Director Ferenc, thank you for reading this article.

Third-string quarterback Joe LaVath got the start and, all things considered, played pretty solid. No, he wasn’t putting up flashy numbers, but what did you really expect in this offense, he scored his first college touchdown his pass. This was Luke’s 5-yard pass to Lachey, which went strong towards the end his zone, showing excellent recognition and decision-making, especially early in the game. Lavas finished the day at 14/24 where he gained 139 yards and one touchdown. Nothing like setting the world on fire, but it wasn’t needed in a game like this. He put the ball in the best playmaker and didn’t turn the ball over. If the defense was good, it would have been enough to win.

And oh, that defense. Really, what else is there that hasn’t been said about this group yet? It was like watching Mozart compose a symphony. Things looked pretty good as Lachey dove into the end zone and the Hawks touched down. The game already felt locked as soon as Xavier Nwankpa got his first college pick 6 and the Hawks took a 14-0 lead on him. Cooper Dejean intercepted for a touchdown and his return was the cherry on top.

Lavas and the offense made headlines for missing a key piece, but the defense had big shoes to fill. Kaevon Merriweather opted out of the game to focus on his NFL Draft, and Terry Roberts transferred into his portal, making the pressure secondary. They stepped up big. Sebastian Castro defended passes all over the field and made big open his field his tackles and Nuwankupa performed excellently in his first career his start. Phil Parker will be relieved to see what the future holds.

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That is not to say that any loss is harmless. You can’t lose someone like Riley Moss or Jack Campbell without missing a step, at least not at first. It’s been a joy to watch Moss grow from being a Purdue receiver early in his career to one of the Big Ten’s best defensive backs, and Campbell has had one of the most difficult seasons in recent history. In a year when outside noise was deafening, players like Moss, Campbell, and many others kept the team focused and another They have come very close to achieving an exceptional season for the . They leave a legacy of excellence that young players can continue to strive for.

This is perhaps the best metaphor for entering a brand new year full of promise and optimism. Your 2022 may have been like this Iowa season. But his solid piece for 2023 is right in front of him. Iowa’s production is all there, with some big new additions coming in that should be very helpful. It may not have had national relevance, but it’s 1,000 times better to end the season with a win than a loss. I will enjoy it no matter how I win.

Happy New Year to all Hawkeye fans. Be good to each other and enjoy all the good things life and this sport we love have to offer.