MINNEAPOLIS - After failing to reach a bowl game last season for the first time in 12 years, Iowa is determined to re-establish itself as a formidable Big Ten team.
This dismantling of rival Minnesota was a solid first step.
“Any time you step out on the field, at least in an Iowa uniform, you want to control the physical aspect of the game. And I think we did that for the most part,” linebacker James Morris said.
Jake Rudock threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and the Hawkeyes dominated the Gophers on both sides of the ball in a 23-7 victory on Saturday.
“It’s always fun. It’s what you love to do: celebrate with your teammates, celebrate with the great fans we have that came and watched us,” said Mark Weisman, who rushed for 147 yards on 24 carries, after the Hawkeyes hoisted the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy to pull within 61-44-2 in the all-time series.
Iowa has won 10 of the last 13 meetings. Mike Meyer made three of his four fieldgoal attempts, Rudock went 15 of 25 for 218 yards passing and the Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0) moved the chains on eight of 14 third downs. After losing their opener to Northern Illinois, they’ve outscored their last two opponents 82-10.
“I think we’re improving every game, but the important thing is to not get satisfied,” Rudock said.
Morris and fellow senior linebackers Christian Kirksey and Anthony Hitchens led astifling effort on defense, including interceptions by Kirksey and Morris of Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson. Nelson hadn’t played in two weeks because of an injury, but he started ahead of MitchLeidner for the Gophers (4-1, 0-1).
In other games involving Big Ten teams, Jordan Lynch threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns, and Northern Illinois (4-0) scored on a kickoff return and an interception return to rout Purdue (1-4) 55-24 in West Lafayette,Ind. … Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns and Illinois (3-1) used a 29-point second quarter to blow by Miami (Ohio) (0-4) 50-14 in Champaign, Ill.
MID-AMERICAN
Ball State clips Toledo
MUNCIE, Ind. - Jahwan Edwards rushed for three touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner as Ball State held on to defeat Toledo 31-24 on Saturday.
The game was tied twice in the fourth quarter before Edwards’ third touchdown capped a 71-yard scoring drive with 3:01 to play. Edwards finished with 20 carries for 89 yards.
Ball State (4-1, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) quarterback Keith Wenning rushed for a 7-yard TD to put the Cardinals up 24-17 with 12:11 to play. The Cardinals then regained possession after Toledo turned the ball over on downs on their next offensive series.
The Cardinals were looking to put the game away before Ross Madison picked off a Wenning pass and returned it 21 yards to the Ball St. 34. David Fluellen’s 1-yard TD run finished a 6-play Rockets’ drive to tie the game at 24 with 6:20 to play.
Fluellen had 129 rushing yards to lead Toledo (2-3, 1-1).
In other games involving Mid-American Conference teams, host Buffalo (2-2) beat Connecticut (0-4) for the first time in a dozen years with a 41-12 victory. … Travis Greene rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown, leading an explosive Bowling Green (4-1, 2-0) offense to a 31-14 victory over Akron (1-4, 0-1) in Bowling Green, Ohio. ... Trayion Durham ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns to power Kent State (2-3, 1-1) to a 32-14 victory over Western Michigan (0-5, 0-1) in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Sports, Pages 33 on 09/29/2013