Iowa experiencing Friday Night lights at Rutgers

By DANA BECKER

dbecker@messengernews.net

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Iowa football team takes part in “Friday Night Lights” to open Big Ten Conference play here Friday night.

The Hawkeyes and Rutgers will battle live from SHI Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. with the game airing live on FOX.

Last week, Iowa (2-1 overall) rolled past Massachusetts, 47-7, to get back on track following a loss to Iowa State. Mark Gronowski threw two touchdown passes to Seth Anderson, Kaden Wetjen returned a 95-yard kickoff for a score and had a rushing TD, and former Southeast Valley standout Aaron Graves recorded five tackles on defense.

The 47 points scored by the Hawkeyes were the most in a game since they put up 51 in a win over Maryland back on Oct. 1, 2021.

Gronowski has now won a record 51 games as a quarterback overall, including his time at South Dakota State.

Xavier Williams and Jaziun Patterson have rushed for a combined 347 yards. Sam Phillips is the top receiver at 90 yards, while Jacob Gill has a team-best seven receptions.

Williams was injured during the win over UMass and will miss this contest.

Kirk Ferentz and the Hawks are 9-4 in their last 13 league openers, including a 27-10 victory over Rutgers in 2022.

“That’s pretty rarefied air (for Gronowski),” Ferentz said. “Happy for him. I want to congratulate Kaden on being Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. His career now, he’s had a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and then both a kick and punt return touchdown. That puts him in a pretty exclusive category for sure.”

Rutgers (3-0) rolled Norfolk State — now coached by former NFL player Michael Vick — in the opener, adding a win over Miami (Ohio) to the resume. They escaped vs. Ohio last week, 34-31.

Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown for 820 yards and seven TDs with no interceptions. He is completing 73 percent of his passes.

Antwan Raymond has 248 yards rushing with five TDs, while KJ Duff, Ian Strong and DT Sheffield all have over 12 catches and 200 yards receiving.

“(Rutgers) is very sound in all areas,” Ferentz said. “They play physical football. Just admire the way they do things. They have an identity in all three areas.

“I have a lot of respect for Greg Schiano. He’s done a great job with the program and the teams that he coaches.”

The Hawkeyes have never lost to the Scarlet Knights, taking the four previous meetings. Iowa clinched a share of the Big Ten West with a 22-0 win in 2023 over Rutgers.