Iowa Edges Out Michigan State in Hard-Fought Contest: Iowa 20, Michigan State 17
Recap of Michigan State vs Iowa (17-20). Game highlights, key performances, and analysis.
Iowa Edges Out Michigan State in Hard-Fought Contest: Iowa 20, Michigan State 17
The Iowa Hawkeyes emerged victorious in a closely contested regular season matchup against the Michigan State Spartans, with a final score of 20-17. The game, marked by defensive battles and pivotal special teams plays, saw Iowa secure a crucial win on their home turf.
Key Individual Performances
Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic had a strong performance, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns on 25 of 42 passing attempts. His primary target was Jack Velling, who amassed 88 receiving yards on eight receptions. Chrishon Mccray also had a productive day, catching six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Brandon Tullis led the Spartans with 56 rushing yards. Defensively, Wayne Matthews III and Jordan Hall each recorded nine tackles for Michigan State.
Iowa’s offense was led by quarterback Mark Gronowski, who threw for 147 yards and one touchdown, completing 12 of 22 passes. Kamari Moulton spearheaded the Hawkeyes' rushing attack, gaining 78 yards on the ground. Reece Vander Zee and DJ Vonnahme were Gronowski's top targets, with 46 and 31 receiving yards respectively. Defensively, Karson Sharar was a force, leading Iowa with 10 tackles and a sack. Koen Entringer contributed nine tackles, and Zach Lutmer added six tackles to the Hawkeyes' defensive effort.
Turning Points
The game saw several key plays that swung the momentum. In the 1st quarter, Iowa's Karson Wetjen had a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown, giving Iowa an early lead. Later in the same quarter, Michigan State’s Alessio Milivojevic was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Iowa's Karson Sharar, disrupting a Spartans drive. Also in the 1st quarter, a 58-yard punt by R. Eckley was returned 45 yards by Wetjen, setting up Iowa in good field position.
In the 3rd quarter, Milivojevic connected with Chrishon Mccray for a 45-yard touchdown pass, tying the game for Michigan State. However, a roughing the holder penalty on Iowa after the touchdown gave Michigan State a substantial advantage on the extra point.
The 4th quarter saw a 44-yard field goal from Iowa's D. Stevens, which proved to be the game-winning score. Also in the 4th quarter, Iowa's Mark Gronowski was sacked for an 8-yard loss, setting the Hawkeyes back.
Looking Ahead
The victory is a significant boost for Iowa, while Michigan State will look to regroup and address areas for improvement. Both teams will need to focus on their offensive consistency and defensive discipline as they move forward in their respective seasons. The Iowa Hawkeyes will look to build on this win, while Michigan State will need to find a way to bounce back from this tough defeat.