The Hawks soaked up sun, hung out on the Tampa Bay beaches and won their third Outback Bowl in six attempts defeating Mississippi State 27-22. Here is the 2019 Outback Bowl by the Numbers
FIRST QUARTER
0 – The number of first downs for Iowa. The Hawkeyes struggled to move the ball on the ground and through the air. 8 total yards at the conclusion of the first period.
15 – The running game was dead in the first quarter for Iowa. -15 net rushing yards by three ball carriers. Ivory Kelly-Martin led the team in Q1 rushing yards (2 yards rushing)
21 – The combined passing yards for the Bulldogs and Hawkeyes. Mississippi State up’d the struggling Hawkeyes by 7 yards through the air.
6 – MSU RB Aeris Williams led the team in receiving yards with 6. Four different MSU players caught a pass in the first quarter and none had more than 6 receiving yards.
29.5 – Iowa Punter Colten Rastetter shanked a punt which was just ugly. Dropped his 47 yard average to 29.5.
FIRST HALF
3 – The number of combined third down conversions by both teams. Hail State, 2 of 9 and The Hawkeyes, 1 of 5.
75 – The amount of yards scored by Nick Easley from Nate Stanley which is the longest TD pass for Iowa in a Bowl Game.
109 – MSU opened up the rushing game in Q2 ending with 109 yards on 24 attempts in the first half. The Dogs came into the Outback Bowls Averaging 226 rushing yards per game.
113 – As the Dogs started to click on the ground, Iowa hit on some big plays via the air and ended the half with 113 passing yards. Nick Easley the primary beneficiary with 3 catches for 84 yards and 1 TD.
THIRD QUARTER
2 – A the half, Mississippi State amassed 8 first downs. At the end of the 3rd period The Dogs increased their first down total by just two. Note: Two quick touchdowns in the first 5 mins of the third quarter.
13 – The number of unanswered points for MSU out the locker room at the end of the half.
21 – Bulldog QB Nick Fitzgerald ran into the record books. Fitzgerald rushed for 152 yards which gave him 21 games during his career rushing for more than 100 yards. That was good enough for an SEC record – Most 100 yard rushing games by a quarterback.
54 – MSU rushed for 169 yards through the third quarter. Fitzgerald accounted for 105 of those. Three other rushers only totaled 54 yards on 14 combined attempts.
40,518 – The 2019 Outback Bowl Attendance
FINAL
199 – MSU out-gained Iowa 342 to 199 in total offensive yards
6 – The number of receivers who caught a pass today totaling 214 yards.