Iowa football went deep into its bag of tricks Saturday to help build a two-possession first-half lead at USC.
The Hawkeyes called a trick play at the Trojans’ 5-yard line, during which quarterback Mark Gronowski handed the ball to Kaden Wetjen, who ran left and pitched it to a reversing Reece Vander Zee to set up a throw to an open Gronowski in the end zone.
The score put Iowa up 21-7.
According to HawkCentral reporter Dargan Southard, Vander Zee is the first Hawkeye non-QB to throw a TD pass since punter Colten Rastetter vs. Penn State in 2018.
Vander Zee is also the first non-QB to attempt a pass for Iowa since 2021. It was the first TD pass by an Iowa wide receiver since Clinton Solomon vs. Minnesota in 2005.
Gronowski had five catches for 66 years across his four previous seasons at South Dakota State, including a 24-yard TD in 2020. It was his first catch with Iowa.
Mark Gronowski stats
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski catches TD pass from Reece Vander Zee on trick play vs USC
Reporting by Gus Martin, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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