Iowa ‘D’ hangs tough vs. Iowa St.
The game itself was, at times, outright hideous. But Iowa’s defense looked gorgeous again, doing more than enough to ensure that the CyHawk trophy stays in Iowa City for another year.
Mekhi Sargent scored on a twoyard touchdown run with 4:47 left, and Iowa beat Iowa State 13-3 on Saturday for its fourth consecutive win in the series.
Miguel Recinos added a pair of field goals for the Hawkeyes, whose winning streak over the Cyclones is the longest since they took 15 in a row from 1983 to ’97.
Iowa can thank its defense for that.
The Hawkeyes gave up just 188 yards on 56 plays, allowed Iowa State inside their 20-yard line just once and forced five three-andouts in 11 drives. Iowa has given up only 10 points through two games.
“For our defense to be able to do the things they did, it really speaks highly of them,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. They “fought through some tough circumstances.”
Iowa State’s defense contributed to the slog, holding the Hawkeyes to 271 yards and 6-for-17 on third downs. But Iowa finally put together a decent drive when it mattered most by going 83 yards in 13 plays, highlighted by a 30yard reception by Brandon Smith that set up Sargent’s touchdown.
E. Michigan 20, Purdue 19
Chad Ryland kicked the goahead field goal as time expired to lift the Eagles over the host Boilermakers.
Quarterback Tyler Wiegers was 20-for-28 for 312 yards and a touchdown pass that came in the second quarter from 75 yards to Mathew Sexton to put the Eastern Michigan ahead 7-3.
In an overall sloppy game, things seemed to go the Eagles’ way when they needed it most. On the final drive of the game, Wieger was sacked on third down by linebacker Cornel Jones, who was called for a late hit when he appeared to shove Wieger into the playing field while getting up after the play.
Jones sacked Wiegers again plays later, but Wiegers completed a 23-yard pass to Arthur Jones on fourth down, and later a defensive pass-interference penalty put the Eagles on Purdue’s 20-yard line before Ryland’s game-winning kick.
Blake Banham finished with six receptions for 99 yards and Jackson had six receptions for 84 yards for the Eagles of the Mid-American Conference.
The Boilermakers took a 19-17 lead after DJ Knox’s 45-yard touchdown run with 6:41 left. Knox finished with career-high 152 yards rushing on 21 carries, and Markell Jones had 109 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Ohio State 52, Rutgers 3
Dwayne Haskins Jr. threw four touchdown passes, and the No. 4 Buckeyes rolled to the 900th victory in program history with a rout against the visiting Scarlet Knights.
Johnnie Dixon grabbed two of Haskins’ scoring strikes, and backup quarterback Tate Martell added another touchdown pass and a 47-yard scoring run. The Buckeyes, playing in their second game without suspended coach Urban Meyer, piled up 579 offensive yards after amassing 721 in the opener.
Wisconsin 45, New Mexico 14
Jonathan Taylor ran for a career-high 253 yards and three touchdowns, and the No. 5 Badgers asserted their dominance after allowing a score on the opening drive.
A.J. Taylor had 134 yards receiving and a score for Wisconsin, which won its 41st consecutive home nonconference game. That’s the longest active streak in the FBS.
Michigan 49, W. Michigan 3
Shea Patterson threw three touchdown passes, and Karan Higdon rushed for 156 yards as the No. 21 Wolverines coasted over the visiting Broncos. The Wolverines desperately needed the confidence-boosting victory after losing four straight, dating to last season, for their longest losing streak since 2009.
Maryland 45, Bowling Green 14
Tayon Fleet-Davis rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and Ty Johnson had 124 yards and another score as the Terrapins defeated the host Falcons.