Iowa Strikes Quickly, Keeps Supremacy Over Iowa State

Iowa needed only nine plays to make it nine in a row over Iowa State.

The 14th-ranked Hawkeyes took to a 17-0 lead in the first 8 1/2 minutes after running only nine plays and coasted to a 29-10 victory Saturday.

Matt Rodgers started the outburst with a 46-yard touchdown pass play to Danan Hughes on Iowa’s second play of the game before the second-largest crowd in Cyclone Stadium history--54,469.

The pass play started with a handoff to Mike Saunders, who stopped before reaching the line of scrimmage and flipped the ball back to Rodgers, who passed to Hughes.

“Our game plan was to try to get points on the board just as quick as we could and get the crowd out of the game,” Iowa Coach Hayden Fry said.

“Of course, the throw to Danan Hughes was really incredible. He made a fantastic catch and Matt made a beautiful throw.”

Although Iowa didn’t display quite the offense it showed in beating Hawaii, 53-10, in its opener a week earlier, the Hawkeyes were able to capitalize on Iowa State mistakes.

Iowa turned two fumbles and an interception into 13 first-half points, and the Hawkeyes blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety in the second half.

“There was nothing magic about that,” Iowa State Coach Jim Walden said. “They jumped all over us and took the emotion right out of us. For every year I’ve been here, I don’t think they’ve turned the ball over yet. Maybe part of it is we’re not good enough to take it.”

Rodgers had one pass intercepted, but Iowa State (1-1) couldn’t capitalize. He also had a 28-yard pass play for a touchdown to Matt Whitaker in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.