Iowa, Iowa St. and Nebraska all Win Openers

Iowa 40, Illinois St. 0

The Hawkeyes overcame a slow start and thumped the Redbirds at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa only led 6-0 at the half but would score on their first two possessions of the 2nd half to build a 19-0 lead. Cade McNamara hit Reece Vander Zee for a 7 yard TD and he followed it with a 31 yard strike to Jacob Gill for another score. Early in the 4th quarter, McNamara found the true freshman Vander Zee again for a 19 yard TD pass. Then the running game got going as Kaleb Johnson got TD runs of 64 and 18 yards for insurance scores.

McNamara was 21-31 for 251 yards, 3 TD and zero interceptions. Vander Zee had 5 catches for 66 yards and 2 TD. Luke Lachey had 6 catches for 63 yards. Johnson finished with 11 carries for 119 yards and 2 scores.

The Redbirds were held to 56 yards of rushing by a swarming Iowa defense which has had at least one shutout in the past three seasons. Aaron Graves from Dayton, IA had 3 sacks — the Hawkeyes had 7 sacks overall. Jermari Harris had 1 INT, Jay Higgins led with seven tackles.

Next up for Iowa, they host Iowa St., coverage on KSOM 96.5 FM, 2:30 pm kickoff.

Iowa St. 21, North Dakota 3

Time of possession really means nothing in football. The Fighting Hawks dominated the stat, holing the ball for nearly 38 minutes while the Cyclones were just over 22 minutes but ISU won in a workman like effort.

ISU took the opening drive into the end zone as Rocco Becht hit Jayden Higgins for a 21 yard TD to strike first 7-0. The Cyclones then stalled on their next couple of drives, getting three first downs but no points. Late in the first quarter, UND started a drive that would last 23 plays and over 12 minutes but all the Hawks could get was a 26 yard field goal. Just before the end of the first half, it only took Iowa St. just over two minutes to get back in the end zone on a Becht 14 yard TD to Jaylin Noel to make 14-3 at the half.

]The second half was simply a bunch of stalled drives. North Dakota QB Simon Romfo threw an interception to Beau Freyler on the Hawks first possession. After an exchange of punts, the Cyclones went on a 12 play drive and Becht finished it with a 2 yard dive for a TD to make it 21-3.

The Sophomore QB for the Cyclones was a very efficient 20-26 passing for 267 and 2 TD plus a rushing TD. Noel had 8 catches for 135 yards and a TD. Higgins 5 catches for 76 yards and a TD. Jontez Williams had 11 tackles, Malik Verdon finished with 9 tackles. North Dakota had 295 yards of total offense but only three points. Bo Belquist had 6 receptions for 43 yards. Romfo was 17-30 passing for 121 yards and 1 INT.

Next up for Iowa St, its a showdown with rival Iowa next Saturday, coverage on KSOM 96.5 FM, Cyclone Pre Game at 12:30 pm.

Nebraska 40, UTEP 7

Year number two in the Matt Rhule era started with a balanced offense and a solid win over the Miners. Freshman Dylan Raiola was 19-28 passing and 238 yards and 2 TD. Raiola hit Texas transfer Isaiah Neyor for an explosive 59 yard TD early in the 2nd quarter as the Huskers built a 16-7 lead. Raiola hit Wake Forest transfer Jahmal Banks on a 21 yard TD just before the end of the first half to make it 30-7.

Nebraska had a trio of runners eat up yards on the ground — Emmett Johnson had 8 carries for 71 yards; Dante Dowdell 8 carries for 55 yards and a TD and Rahmir Johnson finished with 11 carries for 50 yard. Don’t forget about Gabe Ervin Jr. who got on the football field after battling a myriad of injuries with 6 carries and 24 yards and 2 scores.

Neyor finished with 6 receptions for 121 yards in Nebraska’s first 100 yard receiving yard game in over two years. The Miners were held to 205 yards of total offense, their fewest in 5 years. UTEP is now 1-60 against teams in power conferences.

Next up for Nebraska, they host Colorado next Saturday night.