Ad Disclosure
Ihmir Smith-Marsette dominated the first half of the Holiday Bowl
Published:
The 2019 Holiday Bowl is at halftime. Iowa’s offense (and special teams) has proven to be very tough to stop to this point. The Hawkeyes lead USC 28-14.
RELATED: Ihmir Smith-Marsette takes kickoff 98 yards to re-take lead early against USC
Why is Iowa having so much against the Trojans?
Just look at wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette. The junior pass-catcher has made his presence felt in many games prior to this one. But, it’s hard to top the kind of first half he has had on a big stage.
In the first half alone, Smith-Marsette has two carrier for 15 yards and a touchdown, has caught one pass for 12 yards and a touchdown and has returned three kickoffs for 142 yards including a 98-yard touchdown.
That’s right. He has three touchdowns in just the first half. He’s on pace for six.
Here’s his first of the night, which was a six-yard run:
Ihmir Smith-Marsette finds paydirt from 6-yards out and Iowa retakes the lead🔥
— PointsBet Iowa (@PointsBetIA) December 28, 2019
His second was the 98-yard kickoff return:
https://twitter.com/FTBeard11/status/1210744710593011712
And the third — all of which took place in the second quarter — was a 12-yard reception:
USC (-1.5) straight up doesn’t have an answer for Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the 1st half…
Smith-Marsette so far tonight:
💥 6 yard TD run
💥 98 yard kick return TD
💥 12 yard receiving TD pic.twitter.com/sZ0fZuzsoH
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 28, 2019
Smith-Marsette has dominated USC so far.
It’s that simple.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.