Gophers ruin Coker's huge day for Iowa

Iowa had an 11-point fourth-quarter lead Saturday, a last-place opponent and a running back who had shredded the Gophers defense all day.

In the end, none of it mattered. The Hawkeyes still couldn't win on the road.

Shocked by two fourth-quarter Gophers touchdowns, the Hawkeyes spoiled a stellar 252-yard showing by sophomore Marcus Coker and for the second consecutive meeting fell to an underdog Minnesota team in a trophy game at TCF Bank Stadium. The 22-21 letdown was Iowa's third road loss in a row this season.

"He ran the ball well; it went to waste, unfortunately," coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Road losses have become a trend for Iowa, which hasn't won away from home since Nov. 6, 2010, at Indiana. All three of this season's road losses have been by 10 points or fewer.

Minnesota is also responsible for the Hawkeyes' last loss of 2010, a game when Coker fumbled on his team's last possession and the Gophers ran out the clock for the 27-24 victory. In that game, Coker had 21 carries for 90 yards.

What a difference a year can make.

Last year, Coker played in seven games, including the Insight Bowl, and racked up more than 70 yards just twice.

Saturday, Coker had 102 yards after the first quarter. By halftime, he had collected 187, more than he'd had in any game this season. In the third, he broke the 7-7 tie with a 1-yard touchdown run and by the end of the quarter eclipsed his career high of 219, set last year in his breakout performance against Missouri in the Insight Bowl. The last time any Gophers opponent ran for at least 250 yards was when Wisconsin's Zach Brown did it in 2007.

"He gave all he had for us today," Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt said. "And that's all you can say about his effort."

Said Gophers safety Kim Royston: "Probably one of the best running backs I've played against. I'm pretty sore after that."

Instead of getting to revel in the moment, however, Coker's day was ruined -- and Iowa's opportunity squandered -- when a successful Gophers onside kick led to a second fourth-quarter touchdown. Iowa couldn't get a first down on its last possession, leaving kicker Mike Meyer no chance to make up for his two missed first-half field goals.

"It didn't matter -- we didn't do enough," a dejected Coker mumbled after the game.

The road ahead is only more forbidding. In its final four weeks, Iowa faces Michigan and Michigan State at home, and Purdue and Nebraska in the danger zone: on the road.

"The season's not over," Ferentz said. "I felt this morning when I woke up that we had a chance to win any of those four games on our schedule and we could lose any of the five, and I still feel the same way."