Week 1 Football: Iowa takes care of business against UAlbany

Sep 3

Although fan expectations were considerably higher about how Iowa would win, the Hawkeyes still beat the Great Danes of UAlbany 34-7.

This game was positioned as the game that would show everyone that the Hawkeyes made a gigantic leap forward by brining in Walter Payton Award winner and two-time FCS national champion QB Mark Gronowski as the cure to the recent offensive woes that has plagued the Hawkeye program in recent years.

QB Mark Gronowski looks to pass to an open receiver

Instead, the running attack needed to be the dominant force in Iowa’s season opener. While it took some time for Gronowski to shake off some jitters, the Hawkeyes featured proven 2024 back-up RB Kamari Moulton as the starter. On the initial drive, he certainly didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately, Moulton’s involvement would be short-lived due to an undisclosed injury that would take him ou the rest of the game.

Enter redshirt freshman RB Xavier Williams. After Iowa fell behind 7-3, offensive coordinator seemed to quickly shift to a pounding run game and Washington made several quick hits to get the Hawkeyes in the redzone. Suddenly, Iowa built a 17-7 lead. After the half, Gronowski seemed to settle in until cramping up after his own rushing touchdown extended the lead to 24-7. Then, it was transfer QB Hank Brown taking the reins through the 4th quarter. He snuck his way into the end zone after K Drew Stevens belted a 55-yard FG as the defense pitched a second half shutout.