Favored Missouri falls to Iowa in Insight Bowl

Junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s 434 yards passing were not enough for a Missouri win.

By Ryan Moroney

Published Dec. 29, 2010

Iowa cornerback Micah Hyde’s 72-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter sealed the deal for the Hawkeyes in a 27-24 Insight bowl thriller over the No. 12 Missouri Tigers on Tuesday night.

“I just got greedy, I forced it,” junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert said when asked about the decisive 4th quarter interception. Gabbert was 41 for 57 with 434 yards passing on the night, which set an Insight bowl record for passing yards.

The story of the night was Insight bowl offensive MVP Marcus Coker. Iowa’s second-string freshman running back galloped for a Hawkeye bowl record 219 yards on 33 carries and 2 touchdowns.

“He had several big plays. He is a very good player, a very tough runner,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.

In front of an Insight bowl record crowd of 53,453, Iowa began the game with an impressive 8 play, 67-yard drive capped off by a Coker 1-yard touchdown run. The Tigers answered back with a drive of their own, as Gabbert completed passes to four different receivers and marching 75 yards, but the drive only converted to a 23-yard field goal by kicker Grant Ressel.

Before the half, Iowa came out firing, scoring on a 62-yard scamper by Coker and a 34-yard field goal from Hawkeye kicker Mike Meyer giving the Iowa hopeful a commanding 17-3 lead. Once again, an impressive Gabbert led offense answered back with a 9 play, 82-yard drive capped off by a 10 yard run from freshman running back Henry Josey pulling the Tigers within a touchdown.

The Tigers were not finished as Gabbert continued to pick apart Iowa’s secondary, connecting with four different receivers and hurling for 70 yards until a tipped pass fell into the hands of Iowa cornerback Brandon Greenwood in the endzone, Gabbert’s first interception of the game.

In the second half, Gabbert continued his potent offensive attack by throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to All-American junior tight end Michael Egnew and rushing for one himself. In the third quarter, the stingy Missouri defense only surrendered a field goal, giving the Tigers the lead and momentum going into the fourth quarter in front, 24-20.

Then, the interception happened.

With 8:25 to play in the final quarter, Missouri still in control up 24-20, Gabbert was moving the Tigers into Iowa territory until he threw his worst pass of the game, an interception to Hyde. Hyde proceeded to take the arrant pass to the house, a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 3-point lead for the Hawkeyes.

Late in the fourth quarter, down by only a field goal, Gabbert moved the Tiger offense 38 yards until the Tigers were unable to convert on a controversial incomplete pass on 4th and 6 to sophomore wide receiver T.J. Moe.

“I thought I had it, but I guess they had some evidence that said I didn't,” sophomore wide receiver T.J. Moe said.

As time winded down, the Hawkeyes pounded the ball with Coker and sealed the win for the Hawkeye faithful with a remarkable 27-24 Insight bowl victory over the favored Missouri Tigers.

The Tigers’ 512 yards of total offense weren’t enough to defeat the Hawkeyes on Tuesday night in Tempe, Arizona as the Tigers ended the season with a 10-3 record, it’s third 10 plus win season in four years.

“Both sides competed, and they came up on top at the end. So very proud of our football team, it’s been a great year for Missouri,” Pinkel said.