Hawkeyes Dominate Nebraska in Rivalry Game to Retain the Hero Trophy

The Iowa Hawkeyes hit the road for their annual Black Friday rivalry matchup against Nebraska, a series they’ve controlled since the Hero Trophy was introduced in 2011. Iowa entered the day leading the all-time trophy series 10–4, and they walked out adding another tally to the win column.

The game began with both teams trading early punts and feeling each other out, but Nebraska struck first—and emphatically. Running back Emmett Johnson, who had a monster afternoon, gashed the Iowa defense on four straight carries. The biggest of them, a 70-yard burst, put the Huskers up 7–0. Johnson finished the day with an incredible 29 carries for 217 yards and a touchdown, including a staggering 177 yards in the first half alone.

Nebraska’s decision to kick to Kaleb Wetjen on the ensuing drive immediately backfired. Wetjen returned it 51 yards, and a facemask penalty pushed Iowa into scoring range at the Nebraska 29. The Hawkeyes stalled, settling for a field goal to make it 7–3.

Nebraska punted on their next possession, and Iowa capitalized quickly. A three-play, 51-yard drive ended with a perfect 35-yard pass from Grownoski to DJ Vonnahme, giving the Hawkeyes their first lead at 10–7.

Nebraska answered with a steady, Johnson-led drive featuring a 25-yard run and 13-yard reception. Iowa held strong in the red zone, forcing a field goal and tying the game at 10–10.

A muffed Iowa kickoff return gave Nebraska great field position late in the first quarter, and the Huskers added another field goal to go back up 13–10.

But Iowa had an answer ready. The Hawkeyes put together one of their most efficient drives of the game—10 plays, 75 yards—sparked by a 26-yard pass to Reece Vander Zee and a 29-yard scramble from Grownoski. Moulton finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run, restoring Iowa’s lead at 17–13.

Nebraska again leaned heavily on Johnson, running on 8 of their next 10 plays, but Iowa’s defense held them to yet another field goal. With the Huskers trailing 17–16, they wouldn’t score again for the rest of the afternoon.

Iowa Completely Takes Over

From this point on, the game belonged entirely to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa needed just 2 minutes and 16 seconds to rip off a 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Grownoski keeper—affectionately dubbed a “Grownoski Plowski”—to push the lead to 24–16.

Nebraska’s final drive of the half was a puzzling mix of deep shots, a run, and then letting the clock run out before kneeling. Iowa entered halftime with all the momentum.

The second half opened with an Iowa punt that had to be redone because of a penalty. On the re-kick, Nebraska’s returner muffed the ball in the end zone, and the Huskers recovered it for a safety. Iowa extended their lead to 26–16.

Nebraska’s next drive lasted just 49 seconds before a three-and-out. Iowa responded with a 7-play, 71-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 43-yard strike to Vonnahme and capped by a 6-yard Grownoski touchdown run, pushing the lead to 33–16.

Nebraska tried returning to Johnson, but Iowa had adjusted. A –4 yard run, +8 yard run, and incomplete pass ended the drive quickly.

Iowa then delivered another knockout blow: a 9-play, 63-yard drive featuring a stunning 27-yard one-handed catch by Vander Zee and another Moulton touchdown plunge. The lead ballooned to 40–16.

Nebraska made one final push and reached the Iowa 1-yard line, but quarterback Heinrich Haarberg lost the ball on the goal line. Iowa recovered for a touchback, sealing Nebraska’s fate.

From there, the Hawkeyes ran the ball nine straight times, draining over six and a half minutes off the clock before Grownoski kneeled out a rivalry victory.

Stat Leaders & Final Thoughts

Mark Grownoski delivered one of his sharpest all-around performances:

• 9/16 passing for 166 yards and 1 TD

• 13 carries for 64 yards and 2 rushing TDs

Iowa’s receivers came through with big-time chunk plays:

• DJ Vonnahme: 3 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD

• Reece Vander Zee: 2 receptions, 53 yards

  
  

Both helped ignite an Iowa offense that isn’t always known for explosive plays.

But the story of the day—at least for Nebraska—was Emmett Johnson, who single-handedly kept the Huskers in it early with a 217-yard rushing performance. If not for Iowa’s defensive adjustments in the second half, things could have looked very different.

In the end, though, the Hawkeyes asserted control, dominated the final three quarters, and kept the Hero Trophy right where it belongs:

Back in Iowa City.