Iowa State Wins Heart of America Again
Iowa State Wins Heart of America Again
The Iowa State Cyclones defeated the University of Iowa Haweyes 43-19 to win the Heart of America championship this past weekend.
Meanwhile, Kansas and Kansas State tied their 3rd-4th match. The game was supposed to be resolved with overtime, but a nasty injury, and the time it took to treat the player, led to the teams taking the tie instead.
As for the final, the first 10 minutes started with Ren Heimer and Justin Johnson exchanging kicks. Iowa had the wind at their backs and Heimer was able to use that to pin ISU back in their half.
A lineout inside ISU’s 22 saw Iowa work a counter off a previous set piece move and send their center Easton Taylor over. Heimer converted for a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.
The teams went back to exchanging kicks, although the Cyclones made a bit of an adjustment—Johnson looked to find grass instead of touch due to the weather. That worked, as ISU was able to draw a penalty off a maul—they tapped and center Marcus Von Teichman broke the gainline. Iowa State immediately went to work through their forwards and it was senior Trey Bond who dotted down. Johnson added the extras to make it 7-7 20 minutes in.
The Cyclones fielded the restart and swung the ball to center Braden Miller. He chipped ahead and while Iowa recovered, the runner was isolated and wing Tucker Lehman was able to draw a not releasing penalty. Another penalty, this time in the maul, caused more trouble for Iowa. ISU took the lineout and maul and drove it over. Hooker Eli McGuffin scored it, and with Johnson's conversion Iowa State led 14-7.
The Hawkeyes were able to turn over the Cyclones quickly after the restart and Heimer chipped to the corner, putting Johnson under pressure. But Johnson linked with Ian Klein, who kicked clear. The Hawkeyes kept up the pressure only for a big tackle from ISU wing Marcus Teed to knock the ball loose.
ISU would force a penalty and again pressure off the lineout. One more Iowa penalty and a tap move put lock Alex Geisert over. Johnson converted and it was 21-7. That was a big one because Iowa was in position to score, and instead, with some good Iowa State play and too many Iowa penalties, it was the Cyclones who scored, instead.
The second half started just like the first with the team exchanging kicks for territory until a clearance kick from Heimer hung in the air just long enough for winger AJ Douglas to get under it and race for the corner. That was a big score for Iowa; Heimer converted to make it a one-score game at 21-14.
The Cyclones restarted deep and loose forward Zach English was able to draw a not-releasing penalty. Again the lineout and maul; Iowa did not contest, but the Cyclones did not transfer the ball, allowing them to walk down the field before the Hawkeyes decided to engage. Too late. Geisert was able to find space and score for the Cyclones giving them a 26-14.
With 30 minutes left in the match both teams felt the next team to score was going to win the match, Iowa burst through the midfield from a set piece move but were tracked down by scrumhalf Gabe Arredondo. Johnson again went to work peppering the Hawkeyes backfield with kicks, resulting in a lineout steal for the Cyclones inside the 22. English got the Cyclones on the doorstep and Nolan LeBreck dove over to give the Cyclones a 33-14 lead at the 60-minute mark as after Johnson added the extras.
The Hawkeyes needed points and quickly, and started stretching the field vertically and horizontally. But the veteran backfield of pairing of Johnson and Klein were able to clear and find touch. Getting those lineouts didn't help Iowa much because then ISU's Edric Coleman stole four straight lineouts to keep it 33-14.
Iowa finally was able to get the ball back and a penalty at the goalline set up the Hawkeyes' massive reserve prop charging directly at Geisert. For his part Geisert was able to make the tackle, and Johnson kicked clear.
Another Cyclones stolen lineout led to Johnson racing down thw weak side. He was stopped but Iowa got a yellow card for their efforts. The Cyclones were able to run a penalty move that saw Geisert used as a decoy and to pop to English coming around the back. He dove over to make it 40-19. Iowa State finished it off with a penalty goal to kill time, and that rounded out the game 43-19.
Alex Geisert would be named Player of the Tournament for his performance, touching down twice and leading the Cyclones in tackles.
“Really happy with the performance from the boys today," said ISU Head Coach Ant Frein. "We came into this match knowing Iowa was going to much improved from our last meeting and they were but the final score being nearly identical to our first meeting shows the our guys have improved as well! We came into the season wanting to rewrite the narrative around our program and taking it game by game we’ve been able to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves and that a testament to the players led by Alex Geisert and the staff of Matt Brotherton, Owen McGuffin and Brandon Karnes who have really put in a ton of work this fall.”
As we mentioned, the 3rd-4th match ended in a 14-14 tie. The game was tight throughout. Shortly into overtime a Kansas player was injured and his injury required an ambulance. After a lengthy delay it was decided the game would be called. It was an emotional and difficult way to end the season, which has been a good one for both teams.
