Drake at Iowa
September 14, 1985
Lettermen's Day
Coming off a 55-17 shellacking of Texas in the Freedom Bowl, Iowa looked to a promising 1985 football campaign.
But, there were some questions.
Could the defense reload after losing five starters? Could Ronnie Harmon return to full health after breaking two bones in his left leg during a 10-10 tie to Wisconsin? Could Mark Vlasic replace Chuck Long?
The defense lost end Mike Hooks, tackles Paul Hufford and George Little, and defensive backs Keith Hunter and Mike Stoops.
To make matters worse, two expected starters were not able to compete for the season opener. End Richard Pryor was out, as was tackle Joe Schuster. Pryor was a last minute scratch. How would this patchwork defense, led by consensus All-American Larry Station perform? Would Drake give the Iowa defense a test?
Harmon was eager to get back and test his leg. A back known for his elusiveness and speed combined with surprising power, Harmon was a key component if the Hawkeyes were to compete for the Big Ten title and a national crown.
The final question was answered long before the September game against the Bulldogs when Chuck Long declared he would return for a 5th year at Iowa.
Long alone was enough for the pollsters, who rated Iowa 5th going into the Drake game. Drake had already played twice, beating UNI but losing to Southwest Missouri State.
Hayden Fry earned a number of reputations over his tenure at Iowa. One was the scheduling of cupcakes. On the surface, this season appeared no different with Iowa opening at home against Drake followed by Northern Illinois before traveling to Ames for the ritual pounding of Jim Criner's Cyclones.
But this was not the schedule Bump Elliott had made for Iowa. Miami, as in Florida, and Kansas were supposed to be the teams Iowa opened with, but both begged out of the game. Miami would agree to be rescheduled down the line, but Kansas turned its tail as the once doormat Hawkeyes began wiping their feet on their opponent's backs.
It was a beautiful fall afternoon in sold out Kinnick Stadium. The pounding of Texas along with the return of Long, Harmon, and Station had every Hawkeye fan seeing roses. The Drake Bulldogs were having none of that. They buckled down and held Iowa scoreless in the first quarter. A seven-yard Long to Craig Clark pass got Iowa on the board early in the second quarter and Miami of Ohio transfer Rob Houghtlin added the PAT to give Iowa a 7-0 lead.
Neither team had success moving the ball until late in the half when Long hit Harmon for a 60-yard pass deep into Drake territory. Scott Helverson caught a four-yard in route a minute before half time and Iowa went into the locker room up 14-0 on the gritty 'Dogs. Ironically, Helverson told the late Gus Schrader that he was looking at playing football for Drake, but Chuck Shelton recommended he go to a juco first and then transfer. Luckily for Iowa fans, Helverson rejected this advice and chose to walk-on at Iowa instead.
Coach Fry and Coach Snyder must have given an impassioned speech at half, as Iowa roared out in the third quarter to score 37 points. Aided by three Drake turnovers, Iowa picked up a pair of short TD runs from Harmon, as well as a short TD run by Kevin Harmon and David Hudson, a 36-yard Vlasic to Helverson pass, and a long Houghtlin field goal.
Third string half back Rick Bayless ran for the final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter as Iowa blasted Drake, 58-0. It was only the fourth shutout of Fry's career. The Iowa run defense, led by Station, held Drake to minus 37 yards. Station even got an osky.
Ronnie Harmon led all Iowa rushers with 61 yards on 15 attempts. Harmon said he felt strong, but slow. More like a fullback. He said he felt he had the elusiveness, but not the acceleration.
Long was 21/31 for 248 yards while Vlasic was 6/9 for 76 yards.
Iowa suffered another injury to its already depleted defense when Bruce Gear was injured.
Iowa's Two Deeps:
SE - Happel 5-11, 186, Early 6-0, 175
LT - Croston 6-5, 275, Gambol 7-6, 280
LG - Humphrey 6-3, 265, Bennett 6-6, 255
C - Sindlinger 6-2, 255, Spranger 6-3, 255
RG - O'Brien 6-3, 265, Kratch 6-4, 370
RT - Haight 6-4, 275, Wester 6-7, 280
TE - Flagg 6-6, 244, Clark 6-3, 225
QB - Long 6-4, 213, Vlasic 6-3, 206
RB - Harmon 5-111, 191 Harmon 6-1, 190
FB - Bush 6-2, 230, Hudson 6-2, 227
WB - Helverson 6-2, 195, Smith 5-11, 172
PK - Houghltin 6-0, 169, Murphy 6-0, 180
LE - Pryor 6-3, 231, Burrell 6-2, 215
LT - Drost 6-4, 286, Waggoner 6-8, 235
NG - Peterson 6-2, 260, Haight 6-4, 260
RT - Vrieze 6-4, 255, Anderson 6-4, 230
RE - Gear 6-0, 214, Mott 6-4, 215
LB - Davis 6-1, 221, Wirth 6-4, 236
LB - Station 5-11, 227, Batterson 6-2, 215
SS - Norvell 6-4, 207, Burt 6-1, 207
FS - Mitchell 6-2, 194, Schmidt 6-3, 190
LC - Sims 5-11, 177, Smiley 6-0, 175
RC - Creer 6-2, 193, Kimber 6-1, 190
P - Kostrubala 6-2, 210, Krueger 6-1, 199
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