Iowa State uses long drive to hold off Iowa, 10-7

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Xavier Hutchinson caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Dekkers in the fourth quarter, completing a 99-yard drive to lead Iowa State past Iowa, 10-7, on Saturday.

The 21-play possession that started in the third quarter took 11 minutes, 49 seconds off the clock, and helped the Cyclones (2-0) end a six-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes (1-1).

Iowa State survived three turnovers and two blocked punts to gain their first road win in the in-state rivalry since 2014, forcing three Iowa turnovers and holding the Hawkeyes to 150 yards of offense.

Still, the Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Two penalties on Iowa State after what appeared to be a game-ending turnover by the Hawkeyes gave Iowa the ball at the Cyclones’ 39-yard line with nine seconds left. Quarterback Spencer Petras threw a 9-yard pass to tight end Sam LaPorta to get Iowa into field-goal range, but Aaron Blom’s 48-yard field goal attempt was wide left as time expired.

The Cyclones’ winning drive came after Iowa fullback Monte Pottebaum fumbled inside the Iowa State 1-yard line. Iowa State converted six third downs on the drive, the last one coming on Dekkers’ pass to Hutchinson for the touchdown.

Dekkers was 25 of 38 passing for 184 yards. Running back Jirehl Brock rushed for 100 yards.

The Hawkeyes had outscored Iowa State 175-98 in its last six wins in the series, but struggled again to get points to start the season.

Iowa, which had two safeties and a field goal in last Saturday’s 7-3 win over South Dakota State, got its first touchdown of the season on its opening possession of the game. Leshon Williams had a 9-yard scoring run two plays after defensive end Lukas Van Ness blocked a punt and the Hawkeyes recovered the ball at the Iowa State 16-yard line.

The Cyclones got inside Iowa’s 15-yard line three times in the first half, but turned the ball over twice. Brock fumbled into the end zone for a touchback, and Dekkers threw an interception in the end zone.

Iowa State’s only first-half points came on a 22-yard field goal from Jace Gilbert in the second quarter.

BLOCK PARTY

Van Ness had both blocked punts. It was the sixth time in Iowa history that a player had two blocked punts in a game.

The Hawkeyes could only get points out of one of them, though. Pottebaum’s fumble came after the second one.

THE TAKEAWAY

Iowa State’s offense, which had 313 yards, moved the ball on the Hawkeyes all day, but the Cyclones were done in by their own mistakes until the second-half drive to win the game.

The Hawkeyes struggled again offensively. Petras completed just 12 of 26 passes for 92 yards, which will lead to questions to coach Kirk Ferentz again about his status as the starter.

UP NEXT

Iowa State: Hosts Ohio on September 17.

Iowa: Hosts Nevada on September 17.

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