Smith Leads Indiana, Iowa’s Troubles Mount

Alex Smith rushed for 232 yards and a touchdown against Iowa’s last-place rushing defense to lead Indiana to a 27-20 victory in a Big Ten game Saturday.

Iowa, 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten, lost its fourth consecutive game as well as quarterback Ryan Driscoll, who suffered a broken right collarbone 12 seconds before halftime.

The Hoosiers (5-1, 2-1) overcame three first-half interceptions off John Paci, who entered the game with no interceptions in 70 throws, and beat Iowa for the second consecutive year but for only the third time in the last 11 games.

Smith, the Big 10’s No. 2 rusher, was held to a combined 87 yards the past two weeks but took advantage of an Iowa defense that allows an average of 218 yards a game.

The Hawkeyes, who gave up 322 yards to the Hoosiers, surrendered 182 yards rushing to Tyrone Wheatley in last week’s 29-14 loss to Michigan.

Smith was a workhorse, with 43 carries, the most by an opponent at Kinnick Stadium. He had 13 carries during a 20-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 11:16 of the third quarter and ended with Paci’s one-yard touchdown plunge that gave Indiana a 21-7 edge.

Indiana was successful on five third-down conversions during the drive and fooled the Hawkeyes on fourth and two from the Iowa 27. Holder Chad Scott took the snap on a fake field goal and gained five yards to keep the march alive.