MINNEAPOLIS — Caleb Johnson rushed for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns, scoring twice in the third quarter to lead Iowa to a 31-14 victory over Minnesota and return the Bronze Pig trophy to Iowa on Saturday night.
The Hokies (3-1, 1-0), who bitterly watched the Gophers hoist Rosedale’s Floyd at Iowa last year after a Cooper DeJean punt return touchdown was ruled a fair catch in a controversial 12-10 loss, reveled in their Big Ten opener on their border rival’s home turf.
Johnson’s NCAA-leading four-game rushing total jumped to 685 yards as the third-year tailback turned a dominant performance by Iowa’s offensive line into his own personal highlight video.
“I’m really grateful that they opened up holes for me and allowed me to do what I wanted to do,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t be Caleb Johnson without them. I give a lot of credit to the offensive line. It was my offensive line that scored the points, not me.”
Johnson was the best player on his 21 carries, outrunning the Gophers on stretch-zone plays and running to the edge, then evading multiple tackles as he got past the line of scrimmage on other inside runs.
“It’s the little things, the technique, being in the right position,” said Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg, who recorded 10 tackles and a sack.
Iowa had an eye-opening game against a Minnesota defense that had shut out Rhode Island and Nevada in consecutive games, recording 200 or more rushing yards in four straight games, the team’s longest streak since 2013.
The veteran offensive line — left tackle Mason Richman, left guard Beau Stevens, center Logan Jones, right guard Connor Colby and right tackle Jennings Dunker — delivered a knockout punch after a recent struggle against the Gophers.
The Hokies had just 11 rushing yards in the game last season and, including yards lost on sacks, had just 141 yards on 81 rushes in their previous three meetings with Minnesota. Johnson was determined to reverse that trend.
“What I really appreciate is that he really puts the team first,” Cade McNamara said. “I think the players really appreciate that.”
The Gophers (2-2, 0-1) led 14-7 on touchdown passes from Max Brosmer to Jameson Gears and Elijah Spencer and were clearly in the lead in the first half. The Hokies’ only points came on a diving interception by linebacker Jay Higgins on a 38-yard drive in the first quarter.
Iowa punted four straight times after that, gaining just 107 total yards by halftime. McNamara, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 62 yards, struggled to find a rhythm and had several passes deflected off his receivers’ hands, but was lucky to avoid an interception.
“We were sitting there at halftime,” Higgins said, “knowing we were the better team.”
The Hokies got the second-half kickoff and needed five plays to score the tying touchdown: McNamara took the lead with a bootleg pass to tight end Addison Oslenga for a 20-yard gain, then Johnson did the rest, benefiting from a 15-yard late hit penalty on Lindenberg running out of bounds.
Iowa’s next drive went 73 yards in six plays, culminating with Johnson bursting through the line, diving into the secondary and running 40 yards to extend the lead to 21-14.
“That’s what they want. All of a sudden they’re like a boa constrictor, so they better start scoring right away,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said.
summary
Iowa: Overshadowed by the offensive dominance at the line of scrimmage was the Hokies’ stellar work limiting the Gophers to just 79 rushing yards. Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim rushed 39 times for 263 yards the last time Iowa played here two years ago. After losing at home to rival Iowa State two weeks ago, the Hokies avoided back-to-back losses to Minnesota for the first time since 2010-11.
Minnesota: Brosmer, a sixth-year transfer from New Hampshire, contributed to the Gophers’ best passing attack in five seasons. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 165 yards and two scores before halftime, tying his most completions in a first half since Fleck joined the team in 2017.
“When we gave Max time he was really good at the back,” Fleck said. “We just have to get him to keep his rhythm.”
Next
Iowa: Host Ohio State on Oct. 5. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 3 in this week’s Associated Press poll, have won the last eight home games in this series. Iowa last won at Ohio Stadium in 1991.
Minnesota: At Michigan on Sept. 28. The Wolverines, who were No. 18 in the latest Associated Press rankings before beating No. 11 USC on Saturday, haven’t hosted the Gophers since a 33-10 win in 2017.
Iowa 31, Minnesota 14
First Quarter
Iowa – Cal Johnson 1 run (Stevens kick), 8:03.
Second Quarter
MIN – Gears, 3 passes from Brosmer (Keshic kick), 4 minutes 20 seconds.
MIN-Spencer 11 pass from Brosmer (Kesic kick), :21.
Third Quarter
Iowa – Cal Johnson 15 run (Stevens kick), 12:56.
Iowa – Cal Johnson 40 run (Stevens kick), 5:43.
Iowa FG Stevens 46, :38.
Fourth Quarter
Iowa Sullivan 1 run (Stevens kick), 11:13.
A–52,048.
Personal Statistics
Rushing – Iowa, Johnson 21-206, Patterson 18-66, Gill 1-9, Wetgen 1-6, Sullivan 3-(minus 2), McNamara 1-(minus 13). Minnesota, Taylor 10-34, Major 5-33, Nubin 2-10, Brosmer 4-2.
Passes – Iowa, McNamara 11-19-0-62. Minnesota, Brosmer 22-37-2-209.
RECEIVING – Iowa, Lachey 3-9, Oslenga 2-20, Large 2-8, Johnson 2-(minus-1), Vander Zee 1-18, Gill 1-8. Minnesota, Jackson 9-112, Major 4-13, Brockton 2-43, Spencer 2-19, Taylor 2-13, Gears 2-5, Simpson 1-4.
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