Iowa outscored Nebraska 19-0 in the fourth quarter to rally for a 28-21 win on Friday in Lincoln. Kyler Fisher returned a blocked punt 14 yards for a score to kickstart the fourth quarter surge for Iowa. The Hawkeyes followed with a safety, a Caleb Shudak field goal, and a 2 yard rushing score by Spencer Petras with 2:58 remaining to complete the win.

Petras replaced Alex Padilla at quarterback in the game and went 7 of 13 passing for 102 yards and the one rushing score that was Iowa’s only offensive touchdown of the game. Caleb Shudak connected on four field goals during the contest including kicks from 51 and 48 yards in the second quarter.

The Hawkeyes improved to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten. They earned a share of the Big Ten West title and will now wait for the result of the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin game on Saturday to see if they can get into the Big Ten Championship game with a Gopher win.

Nebraska backup quarterback Logan Smothers ran for two touchdowns and threw for 198 yards in his start replacing the injured Adrian Martinez. Nebraska falls to 3-9 overall and 1-8 in the Big Ten.

(Radio Iowa) – The DNR’s annual trout stocking of ponds across the state is now complete. Northeast Iowa regional fisheries supervisor Mike Steuck says it’s a way to introduce trout fishing outside their normal habitat. He says they stocked 18 community ponds with the goal of getting people excited about trout fishing with the hope they will then try trout fishing in the northeast Iowa trout streams. They put between 1,500 and 2,000 trout into the ponds.

“They’re usually about two to the pound or a half a pound apiece and they’re ten to twelve inches in size. And then, of course, each pond gets a few of the broodstock that we don’t use for breeding anymore or spawning, gets stocked into each of the community trout fisheries as well. So, there’s some five to six-pound trout to be had,” he says. Steuck says the stock trout are not hard to catch. “They’re hungry and they readily bite on most lures and baits. We want them to be caught out of there before summer anyway when water temperatures rise up,” he explains.

Trout were stocked in 18 community ponds. (DNR photo)

The pond stocking of trout has become so popular that the DNR waits until after they are stock to announce the location. He says most are caught pretty quickly once people find their location. “We’ve had very, very few that we’ve seen hold over into the summer, but there are a few ponds out there that have some cooler water yet. There’s a few that have survived, but most of them are caught,” Steuck says.

Steuk says the goal is to raise interest in trout fishing — but it also can raise interest in fishing overall. “The neat thing about these ponds is you really don’t know what you are going to catch. You could catch the trout of course that we stock — but you could also catch largemouth bass or bluegill, or a channel catfish, a small pike. It’s a mixed bag catch a lot of times. Folks are doing pretty well,” according to Steuck.

You can go to the DNR’s website to find out more about the ponds which have been stocked.

(Radio Iowa) – Emotions will be running high Friday afternoon when Iowa State closes the regular season at home against TCU. It will be the final home game for a large senior class that has been part of a turnaround that saw the Cyclones go from 3-9 in Matt Campbell’s first season as head coach to a Fiesta Bowl win following the 2020 season.

That is safety Greg Eisworth who says even though this season’s 6-5 record is disappointing the program is set for long term success.

Eisworth credits the younger players who had to wait longer to get on the field because so many seniors made the decision to return.

ISU quarterback Brock Purdy says the seniors are trying to savor this final home game.

Purdy says the seniors believed in the vision for the program.

Purdy believes the foundation has been set for sustained success.

Leading receiver Xavier Hutchinson was a junior college transfer but has always felt like a valued member of the senior class.

Hutchinson says he felt welcomed on day one.

Hutchinson is proud to be part of a senior class that has led the turnaround.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa expects a battle when they visit Nebraska Friday to close the season. The Huskers are 3-8 but have been involved in a number of near misses.

That’s Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta. The Hawkeyes need a win to keep their division title hopes alive and it would give them a 10-win season.

Iowa running back Tyler Goodson says the Hawkeyes have a challenge.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa sophomore Keegan Murray has quickly adapted to his role as the go to guy for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Through five games Murray is averaging 25 and a half points and more than nine rebounds. He has posted career highs in each of the last two games.

Murray has connected on 20 of 30 shots in his last two games.

Murray says some young players off the bench are helping the Hawkeyes build depth.

Murray says he was encouraged to take over on the offensive end coming into the season.

Iowa’s soft schedule to begin the season comes to an end Friday night with a game against Portland State.

(Radio Iowa) Iowa State opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take the lead for good and raced away to an 82-70 victory over 25th ranked Xavier at the NIT Tip Off in Brooklyn. Izaiah Brockington led the Cyclones with 30 points and made 10 of 13 shots in the second half.

The Cyclones trailed by one at halftime before taking control early in the second half.

Brockington also had six rebounds as the Cyclones improve to 5-0.

Former Hawkeye Jack Nunge led Xavier with 24 points.

Denison-Schleswig 44, Atlantic 31
ADM 50, Van Meter 31
CAM 66, AHSTW 37 (Eva Steffensen 16 points and 5 steals, Mallory Behnken 13 points and 11 rebounds)
CB Abraham Lincoln 42, Shenandoah 29
Lenox 63, Clarinda 56
Martensdale-St. Marys 53, Clarke 39
MVAOCOU 91, Boyer Valley 66
Treynor 47, CB Thomas Jefferson 25
Twin Cedars 40, Orient-Macksburg 23
Wayne 60, Melcher-Dallas 18

Atlantic and Denison-Schleswig were all square at 25 heading into the 4th quarter in the girls season opener for both teams on Tuesday. Then the Monarchs used a 10-0 run early in the 4th to pull away for a 44-31 win.

Atlantic jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game and were up 9-3 at the end of the 1st. Denison rallied to lead by one at halftime 16-15 as both teams struggled to find any consistent offense. It was a very tough shooting night for both squads but Kiana Schulz hit 3 threes in the second half to give the Lady Monarchs the edge. Atlantic head coach Dan Vargason said they have a lot of work to do to improve the offense.

Denison was led by 15 points from Schulz. Sophie Sonnichsen and Kira Langenfeld each added 8. Next up for Denison is a trip to face MVAOCOU on the 30th.

Atlantic got 12 points from freshman Paytn Harter in her debut. Aubrey Guyer had 8 and Madison Huddleson dropped in 7. Atlantic will next up travel to Creston on the 30th.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior center Tyler Linderbaum is one of three finalists for the 2021 Outland Trophy. The announcement was made Tuesday by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s best interior lineman on offense or defense.

The Outland Trophy winner will be announced as part of the virtual Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 9. The Outland Trophy official presentation will take place Jan. 12, 2022, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Joining Linderbaum as finalists are defensive tackle Jordan Davis of Georgia and  offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu of North Carolina State.

Linderbaum has started 32 consecutive games at center for the Hawkeyes after playing as a defensive lineman as a true freshman. Iowa has posted a 25-7 record during that span. Iowa won its final six games in 2020 and began the 2021 season with six straight wins. The Hawkeyes (9-2, 6-2) are ranked 12th in the coaches poll after being ranked No. 2 in the nation earlier this season.

The Solon, Iowa, native was tabbed a midseason first-team All-American by four outlets, including Associated Press, The Athletic, CBSSports.com and Sporting News. He was named preseason first-team All-Big Ten and preseason first-team All-America by five media outlets. Linderbaum was also named to the Big Ten Conference preseason honors list, as well as the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists. He is one of four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award.

Linderbaum (6-foot-3, 290-pounds) was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy a year ago and earned first-team All-America honors from The Athletic and Pro Football Focus. He was a second-team All-America honoree by the Associated Press, FWAA, Phil Steele, and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by league media.

The Iowa football program has had four Outland Trophy winners, fourth among all college programs behind Nebraska, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Previous Hawkeye award winners include Brandon Scherff (2014), Robert Gallery (2003), Alex Karras (1957) and Calvin Jones (1955).

Iowa closes the regular season Friday at Nebraska (12:31 p.m., BTN).

AMES, Iowa – For the second year in a row, Iowa State All-America running back Breece Hall is among the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s best running back.

Hall joins Tyler Badie (Missouri) and Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State) as finalists for the prestigious award which will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9.

Hall finished second a year ago to Alabama’s Najee Harris.

Hall is second in the Big 12 and is seventh nationally in rushing yards (1,230), becoming the ninth player in school history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau in multiple seasons.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Hall has rushed for over 100 yards in six games, including a career-high 197 yards at Kansas State. He is Iowa State’s all-time career leader in scoring (312), touchdowns (52) and rushing touchdowns (47), ranking fifth in Big 12 history in total touchdowns.

Hall’s ability to produce points has been on display again in 2021. He ranks second in the nation in scoring (114) and total touchdowns (19), the third-best season touchdown total in school history.

The 2020 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year has six multi-TD rush games to rank third nationally.

Hall’s outstanding consistency throughout his career is eye-popping. In his last 31 games, Hall has recorded 52 touchdowns and been over 100 yards from scrimmage 26 times.

Hall currently owns a 23-game streak with a rushing touchdown, a school record, a Big 12 standard and equaling the longest streak in NCAA FBS history.