His turf toe has healed, the cramps have passed and his job is secure. All that was left was for MarQueis Gray to seize control of the Gophers and make this his team.

He might have taken possession Saturday.

Iowa's James Vandenberg came into the game as the Big Ten's second-rated passer, but it was Gray, increasingly questioned and maligned as his team's losing streak dragged on, who looked like the offensive puppetmaster. Gray had fewer incompletions, more passing yards, significantly more rushing yards and zero sacks, to Vandenberg's three.

"I think [Gray] grew into [a leader] today," Gophers coach Jerry Kill said after his team's 22-21 victory.

During practices, Kill had insisted to Gray that he take charge, that "it has to be him and not me," the coach said. "I told him last week, 'This has to be your team.' I challenged him."

The Gophers said Gray's attitude in the huddle -- even when they trailed by 11 and could sense another collapse -- was commanding and self-assured.

"He just keeps us all together and calm," said Devin Crawford-Tufts, whose crucial 39-yard reception in the fourth quarter was reviewed and confirmed by replay.

"It was confidence, believing in my guys to go up and make those plays," Gray said. "The guys did a great job in helping me feel confidence."

Sack sparks comeback The big comeback was made possible by stopping an Iowa drive deep in Gophers territory in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes faced third-and-4 at the Gophers 14. As Vandenberg looked for a receiver, cornerback Kyle Henderson came from his blind side on a blitz and pummeled the QB for a sack, jarring the ball loose.

Defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey picked up the ball on the run and charged downfield for 23 yards. He fumbled as he was hit, but the ball rolled safely out of bounds at the Gophers 49.

"I was tired, and I was just trying to get as many yards as possible," Kirksey said. "I saw the end zone and just went for it. I just wasn't fast enough."

It was the Gophers' first fumble recovery since the season opener against USC. After managing only three sacks through first five games, the Gophers have six in the past three weeks, including Vandenberg three times on Saturday. Their first two sacks came on the same second-quarter drive and pushed Iowa back from the Gophers 11 to the 25. Mike Meyer then missed a 43-yard field goal.

Etc. • Kill announced to a booster group Friday that freshman receiver Marcus Jones, who returned a kick 92 yards at Purdue, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his knee.

• Attendance on a sunny, 55-degree day was 46,503, the smallest in the 19-game history of TCF Bank Stadium, and smallest since 40,511 gathered in the Metrodome for the Gophers' vicory over Indiana in 2008. Kill's offer of free hot dogs and chips for students didn't seem to do much to draw extra interest; the student section was not half-full, the smallest showing of the season.

• Kicker Chris Hawthorne was in uniform and rode a stationary bike during warmups to test his strained right hamstring, but the sophomore was held out to let his leg heal further. Jordan Wettstein handled the kicking duties in his place, hitting a 28-yard field goal and an extra point. He also made a perfect kick on the Gophers' critical onside kick.