Wisconsin Badgers
5-5 , 3-4
Iowa
6-4 , 4-3
Wisconsin falters at Iowa, 24-10
November 12, 2022 | Football
Lewis scores TD for Badgers in road game
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Heartland Trophy will stay across the border as Wisconsin fell at Iowa, 24-10, on Saturday.
Cooper DeJean returned an interception for a touchdown and set up another score with a 41-yard punt return for the Hawkeyes. Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) moved into a tie for the Big Ten West lead. The Hawkeyes, ranked 129th nationally in total offense, had just 142 yards and averaged 2.1 yards per play, but took advantage of plays made by their defense and special teams.
DeJean, a sophomore cornerback who also had 10 tackles, had a 32-yard interception return late in the first half that gave Iowa a 14-3 lead. Then, with the Hawkeyes holding a 14-10 lead in the third quarter, DeJean's punt return gave Iowa the ball at the Wisconsin 18-yard line. Five plays later quarterback Spencer Petras scored on a 1-yard dive.
Iowa's first touchdown also followed a special teams play in the second quarter. Deontae Craig blocked a punt by Wisconsin's Andy Vujnovich and Jay Higgins recovered at the Badgers' 17-yard line. Kaleb Johnson scored on a 4-yard run two plays later to give Iowa a 7-3 lead.
Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4), which had 227 yards of offense, scored first on a 32-yard field goal from Nate Van Zelst. Graham Mertz threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Keontez Lewis with 52 seconds left in the first half to cut Iowa's lead to 14-10.
Iowa's Drew Stevens had a 44-yard field goal with 2:54 left in the game for the final points.
Petras, who threw for just 94 yards, was sacked six times. Mertz threw for 176 yards but was sacked four times.
Wisconsin, which had won eight of the last 10 games against Iowa, was able to get some yardage against the Hawkeyes, who rank in the top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense. But Mertz's two interceptions and a fourth-quarter fumble were costly.
Wisconsin remains on the road next Saturday, Nov. 19 at Nebraska. Kickoff time and broadcast information will be announced shortly.
Team Stats
WIS 3, IOW 0
WIS - Van Zelst,Nate 24 yd field goal 10 plays, 37 yards, TOP 05:01
WIS 3, IOW 7
IOW - Johnson,Kaleb 4 yd run (Stevens,Drew kick), 2 plays, 17 yards, TOP 00:28
WIS 3, IOW 14
IOW - DeJean,Cooper 32 yd interception (Stevens,Drew kick)
WIS 10, IOW 14
WIS - Lewis,Keontez 51 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Van Zelst,Nate kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:06
WIS 10, IOW 21
IOW - Petras,Spencer 1 yd run (Stevens,Drew kick), 5 plays, 18 yards, TOP 01:58
WIS 10, IOW 24
IOW - Stevens,Drew 44 yd field goal 11 plays, 27 yards, TOP 04:57
