Iowa and Michigan State decided to save all the excitement for the last three minutes of their game Saturday.The Hawkeyes beat the Spartans 15-13 on a seven-yard, last-second touchdown pass from Ricky Stanzi to Marvin McNutt.
Michigan State went up 13-9 on a Kirk Cousins-to-Blair White pass that went right down the middle for 30 yards. The pass came just two plays after an unbelievable hook-and-ladder involving White and tight end Brian Linthicum.
After the kickoff Iowa had just 1:32 to find the end zone.
Iowa quickly drove to MSU's 15 when Chris L. Rucker appeared to intercept Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi. However, Rucker was flagged for holding on the play, giving Iowa first-and-goal at the Spartan 7-yard-line. Stanzi threw three incomplete passes, leaving Iowa with fourth-and-goal and only two seconds remaining. Following a Hawkeye timeout, Stanzi hit McNutt in rush-hour traffic, silencing the Spartan Stadium crowd. They've seen this sort of situation unfold too many times before.
Once again Stanzi was far from wonderful, completing just 40 percent of his pass attempts. The Hawkeye quarterback is often hard to watch. He holds on to the ball too long. He throws across his body into double coverage. This is fine if you're Brett Favre, but Stanzi is not. However, at least tonight all of his completions were to Hawkeyes.
The game was played without a single turnover.
For Michigan State, this was its fourth loss overall and second in conference play. The Spartans' hopes of winning the Big Ten essentially died Saturday night. They officially die next Saturday if Iowa beats the doddering Indiana Hoosiers in Iowa City and MSU loses at Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes moved to 8-0, the best start in school history. They are beginning to take on the aura of a team of destiny, though such teams usually have at least a token offense. Then again, for all the complaining about Stanzi and the rest of the offense, they did move the ball 70 yards in 90 seconds. Stanzi's final pass into double coverage was exactly on target as well; McNutt was the only player with a chance at the ball.For now, the Hawkeyes share control of the Big Ten with Ohio State, a team they face in Columbus in three weeks. However, a single Ohio State conference loss at any point before the end of the season would render that game moot. The Hawks could lose against the Buckeyes and still win the title as long as they didn't lose any other games.
Then again, every time this year it looked like Iowa was finally beaten, something incredible has happened to keep the dream season alive. Why assume that's going to stop now?
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Go Hawkeyes!!! Awesome job!!!
BOTH teams did an awesome job. Or should I say both defenses.
Oh,..... the Iowa haters must hate this.
Still undefeated with 3 home games and one away game left in the season.
Go Hawkeyes.
Hope you win 'em all.
Yes Sir an undefeated big 10 team...You could put them around 19 or 20. I put more respect with Boise. TRUTH!
Yah you are ignorant!
boise played one ranked team the whole year...the rest of their schedule is garbage how can you give them any repect retard
how can a team that loses move up in the BCS standings,these rankings are so fu...ng rigged.
Go hawks!!!
sparty on haha
I've never seen a better hit than the one Jeremy Ware laid on the Iowa receiver. And replays showed it was a solidly clean hit. Check it out on YouTube.
He wasn't flagged for the hit retard, he was flagged for taunting after he knocked him out.
I live in Lansing Michigan, just 4 miles from East Lansing. I told everyone at work that it would be a good game, but Iowa's strongest suit is they play the whole game, they do not quit. How prophetic is that. More than one person had to admit my Hawkeyes do play the whole game. Ferentz must have the players listening to him, many teams would have wasted that last timeout in a panic. I am sure he told them whatever you do, do not call a timeout. They listened, and they had it to use with 2 seconds left.
Who said anything about being flagged? or taunting? All I said was that I will always remeber that hit. So will the receiver.
No, I don't think he'll remember a thing. He may have to start eating baby food through a straw the next few weeks.
Ware was flagged unfairly for a PERSONAL FOULO, not TAUNTING, moron. Read the stats. Better yet watch the game and pay attention, idiot.
What do you think taunting is?
It's a personal foul.
You idiot.
The Ware hit on Sandeman was certainly a judgment call. The BTN crew seemed to think it was okay after viewing the reverse angle replay. I'm not sure if I agree or disagree; I do think it took them far too long to throw the flag.
The Hawkeyes only got a field goal out of that drive, largely because Brian Bulaga was flagged for holding on 2nd and goal at the 3. That cost the Hawkeyes 10 yards and 30 seconds. The call on Ware was iffy, but it's hard to say that penalty decided the game. Chris Rucker getting flagged for holding Derrell Johnson-Koulianos on Iowa's final drive was far more damaging -- and that call was unquestionably legit.
Please let Iowa play in the SEC for a year. I guarentee you they would win less than 50% of their games. Another extremely overrated team.
An invaid argument. I see automatic wins over Vandy , Kentucky south carolina, Miss State, Arkansas, ole miss and LSU. One of those teams may get a chance to Play Iowa in a bowl game. That is if Iowa loses a game.
jwr I have just 2 things to say to you. First, I have always found it better for people like you to keep your mouth shut and let others think you not stupid rather than opening your mouth and removing all doubt. Second, GO HAWKEYES keep up the great never say die season. One last thing regarding the SEC, yes the SEC is a great conference but Iowa has played SEC teams in bowls and beaten them several times so shut up about that.