Troy traveled to Iowa City, Iowa to take on Power Five opponent Iowa with intentions of an upset. The Trojans held a 14-10 halftime lead over the Hawkeyes thanks to Devonte Ross’s big game.
However, the Hawkeyes eventually overpowered a hungry Troy team, 38-21.
“When you play Big 10 football teams like Iowa, they wear you down,” said Coach Parker in his interview with Troy Athletics. “Our guys fought their tails off and I could not be prouder of our players.”
Iowa is known for two things: their special teams and their defense. The defenses showed up early and forced a scoreless first quarter.
A big turning point in the first came on Iowa’s second drive of the ball game. Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson ripped off a 39-yard run to begin their drive, setting up the Iowa offense in Trojan territory. Johnson breaking off big runs would become a theme for this game.
Iowa took the ball all the way down to the Troy 17-yard line, before the Trojans defense forced a fourth-and-one play. Iowa dialed up a play and handed the ball off to Johnson up the middle. Trojans edge rusher Phillip Lee stopped the play before it could even get started, forcing a turnover on downs.
The first quarter ended with the game still tied 0-0.
At the end of the first, Iowa has a tradition to wave to the children’s hospital sitting directly behind Kinnick Stadium, a tradition Troy participated in.
Both offenses found life in the second quarter. Iowa got on the scoreboard first after Johnson converted a 4-yard run into his first touchdown of the game. Johnson would finish the game with 173 yards and two touchdowns.
The Trojans had no offensive momentum and needed to find some quickly before Iowa ran away with the game. The Trojans would turn to the passing game to find their offense.
Troy’s Matthew Caldwell lined up on a first-and-10 from their own 37-yard line. Caldwell received the call, stepped back, and released the ball down the sideline. Devonte Ross had created huge separation and hauled in a 63-yard lightning strike to tie the game at seven.
“We found some things on tape to get him involved,” Parker said. “We wanted to get him involved in our offense, and the staff found a way for him to succeed.”
On the next drive, Iowa regained the lead from a Drew Stevens 42-yard field goal. The Trojans were on fire after forcing only a field goal. The defense flew around, forcing bad throws from Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara.
The Trojans next spark of momentum would come from the special teams.
The defense returned to the field after the two-minute timeout, facing a third-and-two with an opportunity to get Iowa off the field. McNamara dropped back and was met by Jordan Stringer in the backfield. Troy’s first sack of the season could not have come at a better time.
Ross dropped back ready to receive the punt from Iowa’s Rhys Dakin. Ross caught the ball at the 23-yard line and saw an opening on the left side of the field. He received blocks and was in the clear, taking the ball all the way back for a 77-yard punt return.
“Devonte is a great player,” Parker said. “The punt return was the icing on the cake for his performance.”
This was Troy’s first punt return touchdown since 2018 and the first allowed by Iowa since 2016. Troy carried a 14-10 lead into halftime thanks to outstanding play from the defense and special teams.
“We knew what we were coming into,” said Troy linebacker Brendan Jackson. “We knew this would be a dog fight and we needed to swing more than they did.”
Out of halftime, the defense picked up right where they left off. Julian Peterson picked up a sack on second down backing Iowa up eight yards, later forcing a punt.
The offense lost momentum, however. Iowa’s defense looked more like their old self forcing a very quick three-and-out.
Eventually the issue that has been plaguing the defense all season came into play. Iowa ran the ball for a total of 284 yards – making it the third game in a row the Trojans have given up 200 or more rushing yards.
“We took steps in stopping the run,” Parker said. “We need to keep making them, so we do not fall off late.
“There were steps made in how sound we were by our players investing in the plan.”
An Iowa pick six in the third quarter put the Hawkeyes up 24-14. The game looked out of reach at that point, but third string quarterback Tucker Kilcrease entered the game and added a new spark to the offense.
With 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter Ross broke free down the sideline again, hauling in a 62-yard touchdown to add to his big stat line. Ross would finish the game with 142 yards and three total touchdowns.
The score was 24-21 heading into the fourth quarter, but Johnson finally broke free for a 33-yard Hawkeyes touchdown. The momentum shifted and stayed with Iowa. Troy lost the game 38-21.
The Trojans may have fallen to 0-3 on the year, but there was plenty to be proud of from this game against a Power Five opponent.
The Trojans return home to begin a three-game home stand this weekend Saturday, Sept. 21 when they play host to the Florida A&M Rattlers. The Rattlers enter the contest 2-1. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
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