IOWA CITY, Iowa — Xavier Williams rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown, and Kirk Ferentz moved into a tie as the Big Ten\u2019s all-time winningest coach as Iowa defeated Albany 34-7 on Saturday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ferentz, in his 27th season as coach of the Hawkeyes, won his 205th game with the program, tying Ohio State\u2019s Woody Hayes on the conference\u2019s all-time list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The milestone, though, wasn’t much of a topic in the post-game celebration in the locker room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know how humble he is,\u201d quarterback Mark Gronowski said. \u201cI said something to him about it, and he just kind of shrugged it off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was just good to get the win,\u201d Ferentz said. \u201cThat’s what we came for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa’s offense controlled the game after a sluggish start, even if Gronowski struggled in his debut with the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gronowski, who transferred from South Dakota State, threw for just 44 yards, but threw for a touchdown and ran for another before leaving the game with cramping issues in the third quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That put more work on Iowa’s running game, and Williams came through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williams took over for injured starter Kamari Moulton in the first half. Williams had 41 yards on his first two carries, then had a 43-yard run in the second quarter, taking the advice that Moulton had given him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe pretty much said, \u2018Go out there and go crazy,\u2019\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cX stepped up,\u201d Gronowski said. \u201cHe’s a hard man to bring down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williams is the first Iowa freshman to record a 100-yard game in his debut since Shonn Greene rushed for 116 yards against Ball State in 2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe played like a veteran guy,\u201d Ferentz said. \u201cHe didn’t look out of place, at all, and he did a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa outgained Albany 310-43 on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe offensive line played a great game, through and through,\u201d Gronowski said. \u201cThree hundred yards, you can\u2019t ask for anything better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albany took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter when Jack Shields threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lasalle Rose Jr. But the Hawkeyes quickly responded, driving 65 yards on seven plays on their next possession, finishing the drive with Williams\u2019 3-yard touchdown run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gronowski threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Wetjen on Iowa\u2019s next drive to put the Hawkeyes up 17-7 at halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gronowski had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third to give the Hawkeyes a 24-7 lead. Drew Stevens had a career-long 55-yard field goal in the fourth, then backup quarterback Hank Brown scored on a 1-yard run for the final margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ferentz, the longest tenured active head coach in college football, is 205-124 all-time at Iowa, and has a 217-145 career record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday\u2019s win was the 23rd in a season opener for Ferentz at Iowa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gronowski, who won two FCS national championships at South Dakota State, came to the Hawkeyes to revive a passing game that was one of the nation\u2019s worst the last two seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gronowski, who underwent shoulder surgery in the winter after coming to Iowa, started slowly, completing just two of his first eight passes. He finished the game 8-of-15 passing and had 11 carries for 39 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will be good for him to get through this and move forward,\u201d Ferentz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albany: At Delaware State next Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa: At No. 22 Iowa State next Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n