Kirk Ferentz moves into tie as Big Ten's all-time winningest coach

Ferentz, in his 27th season as coach of the Hawkeyes, won his 205th game.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Xavier Williams rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown, and Kirk Ferentz moved into a tie as the Big Ten’s all-time winningest coach as Iowa defeated Albany 34-7 on Saturday night.

Ferentz, in his 27th season as coach of the Hawkeyes, won his 205th game with the program, tying Ohio State’s Woody Hayes on the conference’s all-time list.

The milestone, though, wasn't much of a topic in the post-game celebration in the locker room.

“You know how humble he is,” quarterback Mark Gronowski said. “I said something to him about it, and he just kind of shrugged it off.”

“It was just good to get the win,” Ferentz said. “That's what we came for.”

Iowa's offense controlled the game after a sluggish start, even if Gronowski struggled in his debut with the program.

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.

That put more work on Iowa's running game, and Williams came through.

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.

“He pretty much said, ‘Go out there and go crazy,’” Williams said.

“X stepped up,” Gronowski said. “He's a hard man to bring down.”

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.

“He played like a veteran guy,” Ferentz said. “He didn't look out of place, at all, and he did a great job.”

Iowa outgained Albany 310-43 on the ground.

“The offensive line played a great game, through and through,” Gronowski said. “Three hundred yards, you can’t ask for anything better than that.”

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’ 3-yard touchdown run.

Gronowski threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Wetjen on Iowa’s next drive to put the Hawkeyes up 17-7 at halftime.

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.

Ferentz, the longest tenured active head coach in college football, is 205-124 all-time at Iowa, and has a 217-145 career record.

Saturday’s win was the 23rd in a season opener for Ferentz at Iowa.

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’s worst the last two seasons.

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.

“This will be good for him to get through this and move forward,” Ferentz said.

Albany: At Delaware State next Saturday.

Iowa: At No. 22 Iowa State next Saturday.

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