Saying Northwestern started off the game horribly would be an understatement. Iowa’s Johnathan Banks’ 54-yard kickoff return plus a 15-yard penalty on defense put the Hawkeyes on Northwestern’s 31-yard line. Mark Weisman ran for 26 yards on the drive and capped off the possession with a touchdown.
Things didn’t get much better after that, as Northwestern trails 24-0 after one quarter. Running back Mark Weisman rushed for two touchdowns, moving him third all-time in Iowa history with 28 rushing touchdowns. He had seven carries for 50 yards.
Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock completed two passes of more than 40 yards, to Matt VandeBerg and Kevonte Martin-Manley, respectively.
The Northwestern offense struggled mightily to get anything moving. Chicago-native Louis Trinca-Pasat sacked quarterback Trevor Siemian twice. Running back Justin Jackson first carry of the game went for 15 yards but he was stifled the rest of the quarter, running for five yards on the next three carries.
A botched punt by Iowa, their first of the game, put Northwestern at the Hawkeye 18-yard line. The offense will begin the second quarter five yards away from the end zone.