(Tampa, FL) — Heisman Trophy Runner-Up Diego Pavia had a great college football career but it will end in a loss as Iowa defeated Vanderbilt 34-27 in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday afternoon.
Pavia did throw for 347 yards and 2 TD plus ran for another score and Vandy did outgain the Hawkeyes 398 to 379 but the Commodores did commit 10 penalties and Iowa was 6 of 12 on third down. Vandy was also held to just 51 yards on the ground and Mark Gronowski overcame one interception, going 16-22 passing for 212 yards and 2 TD plus ran for 54 yards and a TD.
Kuemper Catholic alum DJ Vonnahme had a huge game for Iowa — 7 catches for 146 yards which are both career game highs and 1 TD.
Iowa finishes the season at 9-4 while Vanderbilt is 10-3.
Iowa struck first as a 44 yard run by Gronowski set up a Kamari Moulton 4 yard TD run to make it 7-0 Hawkeyes. After a Vandy field goal early in the 2nd quarter, the Commodores had to punt deep in their own territory and Nick Haberer tried a rugby style pooch kick but he ran too far and cross the line of scrimmage. Iowa took the ball at the Vandy 10 and Gronowski threw a pass that Reese Vander Zee reach across his body on the sideline for an incredible TD catch. Iowa led 14-3 at the end of the first half.
The Hawkeyes extended their lead as Gronowski found Vonnahme for a 21 yard TD pass to make it 21-3 Iowa. Pavia then found Tre Richardson for a 75 yard TD pass to answer and cut the lead to 21-10.
Iowa added a Drew Stevens 47 yard field goal to make it 24-10 but Pavia connected on a 16 yard TD pass to Joseph McVay and the Hawkeye’s lead was cut to 24-17 going to the 4th quarter.
Iowa regained control of the game on their next drive — Gronowski found Vonnahme on a 21 yard pass, then found Jacob Gill for a 13 yard pass play, and then Moulton broke out for a 32 yard run. The drive ended with a Gronowski 1 yard TD run to make it 31-17 Hawkeyes.
Vanderbilt got a quick TD to keep them in the game with a 46 yard pass completion from Pavia to Junior Sherrill and Pavia got in the end zone on an 11 yard run and it was once again a one score game 31-24.
The Hawkeyes answered with a 13 play time consuming drive — Gronowski found Gill on a key 5 yard pass to convert a 3rd down and found Vonnahme on a 19 yard pass on 3rd and 7. Stevens finished the drive with a 44 yard field goal to make it a 2 score game. Vandy settled for a field goal with 1:10 left but Xavier Williams put the game away with an 11 yard run and the Hawks went to victory formation to end it.
