Wisconsin Badgers Keontez Lewis (3) during an NCAA college football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Saturday, Nov. 12,  2022 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
David Stluka

Football

Wisconsin falters at Iowa, 24-10

Lewis scores TD for Badgers in road game

Football

Wisconsin falters at Iowa, 24-10

Lewis scores TD for Badgers in road game

Box Score

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.

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Players Mentioned

Graham Mertz

#5 Graham Mertz

QB
6' 3"
Junior
Nate Van Zelst

#29 Nate Van Zelst

K
5' 11"
Redshirt Freshman
Andy Vujnovich

#38 Andy Vujnovich

P
6' 3"
Senior
Keontez Lewis

#3 Keontez Lewis

WR
6' 2"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Graham Mertz

#5 Graham Mertz

6' 3"
Junior
QB
Nate Van Zelst

#29 Nate Van Zelst

5' 11"
Redshirt Freshman
K
Andy Vujnovich

#38 Andy Vujnovich

6' 3"
Senior
P
Keontez Lewis

#3 Keontez Lewis

6' 2"
Sophomore
WR