Oregon uses late drive in thrilling 18-16 comeback win over Iowa

 

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — On a gray, rain-soaked afternoon that felt more like a November slog in Madison than a mid-Big Ten showdown, Oregon needed every bit of grit it could muster. Missing star receiver Dakorien Moore, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and with offensive tackle Alex Harkey a pre-game scratch, the Ducks leaned on their depth and their ground game to grind out an 18-16 win over Iowa on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was quintessential Big Ten football — three yards, a puddle splash, and a final kick that decided everything.

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Early Breaks and the Battle in the Trenches

Oregon’s defense set the tone early. After forcing two punts in Iowa’s first two possessions, the Ducks were gifted the game’s first points when a high snap on a Hawkeye punt sailed into the end zone for a safety. That 2-0 lead, barely five minutes old, foreshadowed the kind of afternoon both offenses would face in the steady drizzle.

The Ducks offense sputtered initially, hampered by wet footballs and missing firepower on the perimeter. Quarterback Dante Moore opened 0-for-3, and his first real shot downfield ended in an interception by Iowa corner DeShaun Lee, erasing a red-zone opportunity. But even with the pick, Oregon’s second drive revealed something crucial — the offensive line was winning the line of scrimmage.

Running backs Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison found daylight behind reserve tackle Gernorris Wilson, filling in admirably for Harkey. By the end of the first quarter, Oregon’s front had already established an identity: lean on the run, trust the pull blocks, and protect the football.

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Finding Rhythm Through the Rain

The Ducks broke through early in the second quarter with a punishing 82-yard drive. Mixing heavy formations, motion looks, and dual-back sets, coordinator Will Stein kept Iowa guessing long enough for freshman Dierre Hill Jr. to burst 19 yards untouched for a touchdown. That made it 9-0 Oregon with 11:46 left in the half — the type of drive that wears down even the most disciplined front seven.

But Iowa answered in classic Hawkeye fashion. Quarterback Mark Gronowski guided a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a touchdown to tight end D.J. Vonnahme, narrowing the score to 9-7. Iowa’s physicality began to take its toll, winning time of possession 15 minutes to Oregon’s 9 in the first half.

Still, Oregon’s ground dominance kept it in control. Whittington’s burst on back-to-back runs late in the half — for 11 and 27 yards — set up Atticus Sappington’s 46-yard field goal just before halftime. The Ducks entered the locker room ahead 12-7 and out-rushing the nation’s No. 3 run defense 137-83 in the first half.

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Defense Bends, But Never Breaks

The third quarter tested Oregon’s conditioning. Iowa pounded away behind Kaleb Moulton and Gronowski’s legs, pushing deep into Duck territory. But the tide turned when defensive back Brandon Finney stripped Kaden Wetjen after a reception, and Bear Alexander pounced on the loose ball to halt a scoring threat. It was the game’s turning point — a takeaway that kept Oregon’s fragile lead intact.

Moments later, Dante Moore found his own highlight, sprinting 49 yards on a designed quarterback keeper to flip the field. The drive stalled, but Sappington’s second field goal — this time from 38 yards — extended the advantage to 15-7 as the third quarter closed.

That set the stage for a tense, clock-chewing final period.

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Iowa’s Late Push and Oregon’s Final Answer

Gronowski finally found rhythm through the air in the fourth quarter, hitting Vonnahme for 40 yards and converting a fourth-and-three with a strike to Riley Vander Zee. His 3-yard keeper with 1:51 remaining capped a 93-yard drive and gave Iowa its first lead of the day (16-15). The two-point try was overturned on review, leaving Oregon trailing by a single point and 111 seconds away from defeat.

That was just enough time for redemption.

Starting from his own 25, Moore — quiet most of the day — delivered under pressure. He hit Malik Benson on a 24-yard rope down the sideline and Jeremiah McClellan for a short gain that positioned the Ducks at Iowa’s 21 with 11 seconds left. After one missed shot to the end zone, Sappington trotted out for a 39-yard attempt into the same swirling wind that had tormented both punters all day.

The sophomore calmly split the uprights with :03 on the clock. Oregon 18, Iowa 16.

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Keys to the Game

1. Ground Control:
Oregon’s offensive line — minus a starter — dominated up front, paving the way for 261 rushing yards at 7.3 per carry. Whittington (118 yards) and Hill (45 yards, TD) shared the load behind a rotation that included Davison and Moore’s timely scrambles.

2. Defense by Committee:
Linebackers Teitum Tuioti and Bryce Boettcher each recorded sacks, and the Ducks’ front held Iowa to 3.3 yards per carry. Finney’s forced fumble and Alexander’s recovery in the third quarter were decisive.

3. Special Teams Swing:
Sappington’s 46- and 39-yard field goals — both into difficult conditions — provided the margin. Meanwhile, punter James Ferguson-Reynolds pinned Iowa deep repeatedly, limiting Wetjen’s return impact.

4. Missed Opportunities:
Moore’s early interception nearly loomed large, and a dropped third-down pass by McClellan in the fourth could have sealed the game earlier. But Oregon compensated with efficient situational defense, forcing Iowa to settle for a long field goal before the late drive.

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By the Numbers

• Total Yards: Oregon 373, Iowa 278

• Rushing Yards: Oregon 261 (7.3 avg), Iowa 140 (3.3 avg)

• Third Down Conversions: Oregon 3-of-10, Iowa 5-of-13

• Time of Possession: Iowa 33:17, Oregon 26:40

• Turnovers: One each (Oregon INT, Iowa fumble)

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Player Highlights

• Noah Whittington, RB, Oregon: 17 carries, 118 yards

• Dierre Hill Jr., RB: 7 carries, 45 yards, TD

• Dante Moore, QB: 13-of-21, 112 yards; 4 carries, 46 yards

• Bryce Boettcher & Teitum Tuioti, LBs: 2 combined sacks, 10 tackles

• Atticus Sappington, K: 2-for-2 FGs, 39- and 46-yarders – game-winner

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Oregon improved to 8-1 and stayed alive in the College Football Playoff hunt by surviving a game that tested its resilience more than its explosiveness. In a season defined by style points, Saturday proved substance still matters — especially when the points come three at a time through rain and grit.