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Some guys save their best moments for rivalry games. That certainly seems to be the case early for Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette and running back Tyler Goodson.
Iowa took a 24-10 lead into the first half of Friday’s game against Nebraska, in large part because of the player of those two skill position players. Both Smith-Marsette and Goodson put up some big numbers in the first half.
Smith-Marsette started the scoring on a 45-yard reverse, giving the Hawkeyes an early 7-0 lead in the contest. It was his second rushing touchdown of the season and his sixth total touchdown of the year.
https://twitter.com/schuttecfb/status/1200500594080976903?s=21
Two possessions later, Goodson was able to break a 55-yard run to the end zone to give the Hawkeyes a 14-3 advantage in the game. It was his longest rush of the season.
Tyler 👏 Goodson 👏@HawkeyeFootball is starting HOT: pic.twitter.com/HP8RePsESL
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) November 29, 2019
Before the half ended, Smith-Marsette broke off a 95-yard kickoff return to the end zone, making the score 24-10 through the first 30 minutes of the game.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette gets loose again! @HawkeyeFootball answers a pick six with a 96-yard TD return on the ensuing kickoff: pic.twitter.com/XarX2Y4kAM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 29, 2019
Smith-Marsette ended the half with 140 all-purpose yards. Goodson led the Hawkeyes in rushing with 109 yards on 10 carries, the first Iowa running back to hit 100 yards rushing in a B1G game this season.
Iowa is searching for its fifth-straight win in the series.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB