Hawks Handle ISU in Season Opener
Victory! Hawkeyes open 2025 campaign with famous win over Cyclones
September 5, 2025
“It’s just one game, I know, but, man, what a win!” Iowa head coach Tyler Dailey
In the 81st minute of the match with the Hawkeyes down 22-21 on the road in Ames, IA, second-year player and captain Ren Heimer calmly drilled a 40-meter angled penalty kick through the uprights to give the University of Iowa men’s rugby team a stunning 24–22 walk-off win over #2 nationally ranked and intrastate rivals the Iowa State Cyclones. It was a signature win for Head Coach Tyler Daily, Coach Alistair Miller, and an improving Iowa 15s team, itself ranked #12 in the DIAA.
The underdog Hawkeyes rolled into the Friday twilight on the Cyclones campus hoping to avenge last year’s loss in the Heart of America (HOA) league final. In a match that saw three lead changes in the final ten minutes, the Hawkeyes prevailed on the final play. It was a confidence-building victory for Iowa as the Hawks look ahead to the rest of the HOA season.
For much of the first half, neither team could generate much momentum due to several ballhandling miscues and penalties. The Hawkeyes were stuck on defense much of the half, but forced the Cyclones to commit a number of penalties to keep them out of the try zone. Eventually, Iowa State pushed it over to take a 5–0 lead. Hawkeyes scrum half Michael Johnson made a long, strong run down to the Cyclones five-meter line late in the half, but the Hawks failed to capitalize, going into halftime down 5–0.
The second half saw Iowa State score an early try to take a 10–0 lead. Iowa bounced back in the middle of the half with a strong scoop and score by junior Daniel Portz. Heimer converted to make the score 10–7. After another Cyclone try, the Hawks began to maintain possession and were rewarded with a powerful crash and try by fifth-year senior Henry Schwob. Heimer’s conversion cut the Iowa State lead to 17–14. With ten minutes left in the match, with Heimer immobilized on the pitch with cramps, senior AJ Douglas broke free on the wing for a centered try. As Heimer received treatment, fullback Easton Taylor made the conversion – every point crucial now – putting the Hawkeyes up 21–17.
The experienced Cyclones maintained composure and ball possession and scored a corner try with two minutes left in the match, retaking the lead at 22–21, leaving little hope for the Hawkeyes. However, after the kickoff, the Hawk pack forced the Cyclones to concede a scrum penalty, setting up Heimer’s last-second heroics.
After the match, a relieved Heimer commented, “My tactical kicking was not good today. I didn’t place the ball in good spots and sometimes failed to find touch. I’m just grateful to our forwards for forcing that final penalty and giving me a chance. What a great team win!”
When asked about the resiliency of the Iowa team playing its first match of the season against an Iowa State team that had already been on an overseas tour and also played another match, head coach Tyler Dailey was full of praise. “It was a great team effort. It’s been awhile since we’ve beaten Iowa State, but we are improved from last year and came into the match with cautious confidence. We were under a lot of defensive pressure much of the match, but we held our own against the Cyclones pack. When we improve just a few things – ball handling, defensive discipline – we’ll be pretty competitive. It’s just one game, I know, but, man, what a win!”
Special note: It was heartwarming to see vice-captain Sam Zimmerman back on the pitch in great form after his months-long health scare. Welcome back, Sam!
