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Rapid Reaction: Iowa caps off 2022 season by holding Kentucky scoreless in Music City Bowl

Grant Bricker

By Grant Bricker

Published:

Final Score: Iowa 21, Kentucky 0

Iowa football ended the 2022 season by showing out against Kentucky. The Hawkeyes dominated the Wildcats in the Music City Bowl. Mark Stoops did not have a great time against his alma mater.

Iowa actually showed some life on offense during the game. This was without Spencer Petras or Alex Padilla at quarterback. Petras is out with an injury, and Padilla is now in the transfer portal.

Center stage, Joey Labas. Labas assumed the starting role with both Petras and Padilla unavailable. Labas threw a 15-yard TD pass to TE Luke Lachey for the Iowa QB’s first career passing score.

Labas finished with 100+ yards passing in his first career start.

Iowa actually scored the majority of its points in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes found the end zone three times before the half. The other two touchdowns scored by Iowa came from pick-sixes by Xavier Nwankpa and Cooper DeJean.

Nwankpa filled in for Kaevon Merriweather after the veteran DB declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Nwankpa jumped a pass from the Kentucky QB and took it back for a 52-yard score.

DeJean did the same except his return was a little shorter. DeJean only had to go a few yards in order to score as the Wildcats were backed up inside their own 20-yard line.

The Music City Bowl victory means that Iowa finishes the season at 8-5.

Grant Bricker

Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.