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    • Hawkeyes offense struggles in first half
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    Hawkeyes offense struggles in first half

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    This story has been updated with new information.

    The Iowa football team’s offense, led by quarterback Cade McNamara and offensive coordinator Tim Lester, looked lost in the first half against Minnesota on Saturday night.

    Then, just like in Week 1, Iowa came to life, starting the third quarter with a five-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown run from Kaleb Johnson to tie the score at 14-14.

    Before that, the Hawkeyes had managed just 62 total yards in the first 29 minutes, with their lone score coming on a Jay Higgins interception that set up the offense at the Golden Gophers’ 38-yard line. Johnson then needed an incredible 23-yard run to get his team into scoring position.

    Late rushes by Johnson of 21 and 24 yards in the final minute proved futile.

    The touchdown came with eight minutes left in the first quarter, and Iowa did little to nothing offensively after that before going into the locker room down 14-7.

    Lester’s unit seemed out of rhythm. McNamara completed just 7 of 13 passes for 16 yards and recorded a 13-yard sack on third down. After Johnson’s TD, three of the Hawkeyes’ next four drives ended in 3-and-out runs, with the last two ending with a combined minus-12 yards.

    More: Iowa vs. Minnesota football score today: Live updates, highlights of week 4 game

    Whether it was errant throws, dropped passes or back blocking, the passing game failed to gain traction. And aside from three big runs, only one of which amounted to anything meaningful, Johnson was largely suppressed.

    The good news was that the Hawkeyes committed just one 10-yard penalty. In Week 1, they proved that a bad first half doesn’t have to be the death knell for the offense.

    But McNamara and Iowa have to find a way to complete throws to someone other than tight end Luke Lachey.

    Iowa football first half offensive stats vs Minnesota

    • Cade McNamara: 7 of 13, 16 yards
    • Caleb Johnson: 12 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD, 2 catches, -1 yard
    • Lucas Lachey: 3 catches, 9 yards

    Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him at X on @GusMartin_DMR.

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