Iowa (8-5) defeated Boston College (7-6), 27-20, on Wednesday at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz (143-97) recorded his 143rd win at Iowa, tying Hayden Fry (143-89-6) as the Hawkeyes’ all-time winningest football coach. The 143 wins rank fifth in overall coaching wins in the Big Ten Conference.
Iowa improved to 7-8 in bowl games since 2001. Only Ohio State (8) has more bowl wins among Big Ten teams since 2001.
INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES
RB Akrum Wadley was named Pinstripe Bowl MVP. He had an Iowa bowl record 171 kickoff return yards. The previous record was held by C.J. Jones (169 vs. USC, 2003 Orange Bowl). His 72-yard KO return at the end of the first quarter was a career-long.
· Wadley finished the game with a career-high 283 all-purpose yards (88 rushing, 24 receiving, 171 kickoff return). He has 3,904 career all-purpose yards, ninth most in program history (2,872 rush, 761 receiving, 271 KO returns).
· Wadley rushed 22 times for 88 yards today. He has 536 career carries for 2,872 rushing yards, fifth all-time.
· Wadley had one rushing touchdown today (5 yards). He has 28 career rushing touchdowns, fourth all-time, 35 career touchdowns, tying Sedrick Shaw for second all-time, and 210 career points, 10th all-time.
DB Josh Jackson’s fourth-quarter interception was is eighth of the season, tying a single-season school -- Desmond King (2015), Lou King (1981), and Nile Kinnick (1939). Jackson’s 8 INTs lead the nation.
FS Jake Gervase recorded an interception, his third of the season, on Boston College’s first drive of the game. Iowa leads the NCAA with 21 INTs.
QB Nate Stanley’s 8-yard TD to TE Noah Fant was his 26th touchdown pass of the season, tying Brad Banks (2002) for No. 2 on Iowa’s single-season record list. Chuck Long holds the single-season record with 27 TD passes (1985).
LB Josey Jewell had 11 tackles today. He has 22 career games with double-digit tackles, including nine this season.
· Jewell has 437 career tackles, fourth all-time in program history behind Abdul Hodge (453), Andre Jackson (465), and Larry Station (492). He passed Brad Quast (435) today.
· Jewell had 136 tackles this season, a single-season career high and the most by a Hawkeye since Pat Angerer in 2009 (145).
TE Noah Fant caught an 8-yard TD reception, his team-high 11th of the season. The 11 TDs are a single-season record for an Iowa tight end. Mike Flagg holds the career record with 13. Fant’s 11 touchdowns are the most by a Hawkeye since Marvin McNutt caught 12 touchdown passes in 2012.
WR Matt VandeBerg played in his 54th career game, more than any other player in school history. VandeBerg ended his career having at least one reception in 32 consecutive games played.
· VandeBerg has 134 career receptions, 10th most in program history.
· He has 1,686 career receiving yards, 15th in program history.
DE Anthony Nelson’s fourth quarter sack was his seventh of the season, a single-season career best (6 in 2016). The sack forced a fumble (recovered by Parker Hesse), setting up Iowa’s game-winning touchdown. Hesse and Nelson teamed for a sack on Boston College’s final drive of the game.
TE Nate Wieting 17-yard reception was his first career reception. It set up FB Drake Kulick’s first career rushing touchdown (1 yard).
DE Nathan Bazata recorded a career-high nine tackles in his final game as a Hawkeye. Freshman Matt Hankins had a career-best seven tackles.
Freshman Tristan Wirfs started at left tackle. He is the first true freshman to start at left tackle in the Ferentz era.
OL Levi Paulsen made his first career start at RT. It was his second career start (RG at Illinois in 2016).
MISCELLANEOUS
Iowa’s defense allowed 102 yards in the second half after allowing 281 in the first half. Iowa outscored Boston College 17-3 in the second half.
Today’s game time temperature (23 degrees) at kickoff was the coldest for an Iowa game since 2013 vs. Michigan (18 degrees).
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer. The Hawkeyes have played 240 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 182 times (110-73). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 58 times (33-25).
Instant replay was used one time today:
1) TE Nate Wieting TD reception (Reversed, down at the 1-yard line)
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes host Northern Illinois in the 2018 season opener on Sept. 1.