IOWA CITY, Iowa — Nathan Chandler threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as No. 23 Iowa rallied from an early 14-point deficit to beat No. 9 Michigan 30-27 on Saturday.
Iowa (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before rallying with 20 straight points and held on for the victory.
The Hawkeye defense, after being picked apart by Michigan quarterback John Navarre for 224 yards in the first half, allowed just five first downs in the final two quarters.
Michigan (4-2, 1-1) made it exciting at the end as Navarre threw a 41-yard TD pass to Braylon Edwards with 3:43 remaining, cutting Iowa's lead to 30-27.
The Wolverines then forced an Iowa punt, and Navarre marched Michigan across midfield with less than two minutes to go. But three consecutive incomplete passes sealed the victory, Iowa's second straight over the Wolverines.
Michigan spent the week talking about avenging last year's 34-9 loss to the Hawkeyes, the worst home defeat for the Wolverines in 35 years. But once again, Michigan couldn't stop Iowa when it mattered.
Chandler was 17-of-34 for a career-high 195 yards. Iowa running back Fred Russell rushed for 110 yards on 26 carries and Nate Kaeding added three field goals on a day Iowa honored its former coach, Hayden Fry.
Navarre was 26-of-49 for a school-record 389 yards as Michigan rolled up 463 yards on offense. Jason Avant had seven catches for 175 yards, including a 71-yarder in the first half, while Edwards had seven catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
After giving up 20 points and 290 yards in the first half, Iowa's defense stiffened. The Hawkeyes shut down running back Chris Perry and began blitzing more, forcing Navarre to hurry throws and toss one interception.
Iowa took its first lead on Kaeding's 31-yard field goal with 2:34 left in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes created the scoring chance when Chris Smith blocked a punt and Iowa took possession at the Wolverine 14.
Iowa extended its lead late in the fourth quarter when Chandler capped a time-consuming, 79-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ramon Ochoa. Ochoa beat two defenders and crossed the goal line just before being stripped of the ball, giving Iowa a 30-20 lead.
No. 25 Michigan State 31, Indiana 3
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jeff Smoker tied a Michigan State record with 32 completions and accounted for three touchdowns as the Spartans (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) beat Indiana (1-5, 0-2).
Smoker finished 32-of-40 for 351 yards with two TDs, a rushing score and no interceptions. He tied the school mark for completions set by John Leister, who threw 46 passes in a loss to Michigan in 1982. It was Smoker's third 300-yard game this season and the seventh of the senior's tumultuous career.
Wisconsin 30, Penn St. 23
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Jim Leonard returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, and big plays on special teams set up two more scores as Wisconsin (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) beat Penn State (2-4, 0-2).
The Badgers needed those big special teams plays. Jim Sorgi completed only nine of 26 passes, but two of his completions were for touchdowns. Booker Stanley, the third-string tailback, ran for 119 yards and one touchdown.
Western Illinois 33, Western Kentucky 28
MACOMB, Ill. — Travis Glasford ran for 127 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns as Western Illinois (4-1, 1-0 Gateway Conference) beat Western Kentucky (3-2, 0-1).
James Norris had eight catches for 109 yards for Western Illinois.
Southern Illinois 37, Indiana State 14
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Joel Sambursky passed for 173 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score to lead Southern Illinois (5-0, 1-0 Gateway Conference) over Indiana State (3-3, 0-1).
Northern Iowa 16, Ilinois State 7
NORMAL, Ill. — Terrance Freeney's 4-yard run midway through the fourth quarter sealed the win as Northern Iowa (3-1) beat Illinois State (3-2).
Demetru Johnson scored on a 16-yard run in the second quarter for Illinois State, which led 7-0 through three quarters.
SE Missouri 30, Eastern Illinois 17
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — James Oliver ran for 79 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run that led Southeast Missouri (1-5, 1-0 Ohio Valley) over Eastern Illinois (1-4, 0-1).
Eastern Illinois quarterback Andrew Harris completed 22 of 30 passes for 184 yards and ran for a team-high 55 yards.
Saint Xavier 37, St. Francis 0
Luke Schillo ran for three touchdowns as Saint Xavier (3-2, 1-0 Mid States Football Association) beat St. Francis in Mount Greenwood.
Guy Smith caught a 23-yard TD pass from John Perryman to get Sant Xavier started. Schillo, who had 52 yards rushing, scored on runs of 3 and 2 yards in the second quarter and added a 3-yard run in the third. Tom Pappas had an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
Joliet Junior College 53, Rock Valley 0
Host Joliet Junior College (5-1 overall, 4-1 N4C) piled up 325 rushing yardage, scoring eight touchdowns on the ground in the rout of Rock Valley College. Sophomore defensive end Rob Ninkovich (Lincoln-Way Central) recorded a sack and had an outstanding overall game for Joliet.
DePauw 51, Chicago 10
GREENCASTLE, Ind. — Ross Wiethoff and Matt King each ran for two touchdowns as DePauw (3-2) beat Chicago (1-3). Sam Owens had a 1-yard TD run for Chicago.
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Iowa (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before rallying with 20 straight points and held on for the victory.
The Hawkeye defense, after being picked apart by Michigan quarterback John Navarre for 224 yards in the first half, allowed just five first downs in the final two quarters.
Michigan (4-2, 1-1) made it exciting at the end as Navarre threw a 41-yard TD pass to Braylon Edwards with 3:43 remaining, cutting Iowa's lead to 30-27.
The Wolverines then forced an Iowa punt, and Navarre marched Michigan across midfield with less than two minutes to go. But three consecutive incomplete passes sealed the victory, Iowa's second straight over the Wolverines.
Michigan spent the week talking about avenging last year's 34-9 loss to the Hawkeyes, the worst home defeat for the Wolverines in 35 years. But once again, Michigan couldn't stop Iowa when it mattered.
Chandler was 17-of-34 for a career-high 195 yards. Iowa running back Fred Russell rushed for 110 yards on 26 carries and Nate Kaeding added three field goals on a day Iowa honored its former coach, Hayden Fry.
Navarre was 26-of-49 for a school-record 389 yards as Michigan rolled up 463 yards on offense. Jason Avant had seven catches for 175 yards, including a 71-yarder in the first half, while Edwards had seven catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
After giving up 20 points and 290 yards in the first half, Iowa's defense stiffened. The Hawkeyes shut down running back Chris Perry and began blitzing more, forcing Navarre to hurry throws and toss one interception.
Iowa took its first lead on Kaeding's 31-yard field goal with 2:34 left in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes created the scoring chance when Chris Smith blocked a punt and Iowa took possession at the Wolverine 14.
Iowa extended its lead late in the fourth quarter when Chandler capped a time-consuming, 79-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ramon Ochoa. Ochoa beat two defenders and crossed the goal line just before being stripped of the ball, giving Iowa a 30-20 lead.
No. 25 Michigan State 31, Indiana 3
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jeff Smoker tied a Michigan State record with 32 completions and accounted for three touchdowns as the Spartans (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) beat Indiana (1-5, 0-2).
Smoker finished 32-of-40 for 351 yards with two TDs, a rushing score and no interceptions. He tied the school mark for completions set by John Leister, who threw 46 passes in a loss to Michigan in 1982. It was Smoker's third 300-yard game this season and the seventh of the senior's tumultuous career.
Wisconsin 30, Penn St. 23
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Jim Leonard returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, and big plays on special teams set up two more scores as Wisconsin (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) beat Penn State (2-4, 0-2).
The Badgers needed those big special teams plays. Jim Sorgi completed only nine of 26 passes, but two of his completions were for touchdowns. Booker Stanley, the third-string tailback, ran for 119 yards and one touchdown.
Western Illinois 33, Western Kentucky 28
MACOMB, Ill. — Travis Glasford ran for 127 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns as Western Illinois (4-1, 1-0 Gateway Conference) beat Western Kentucky (3-2, 0-1).
James Norris had eight catches for 109 yards for Western Illinois.
Southern Illinois 37, Indiana State 14
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Joel Sambursky passed for 173 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score to lead Southern Illinois (5-0, 1-0 Gateway Conference) over Indiana State (3-3, 0-1).
Northern Iowa 16, Ilinois State 7
NORMAL, Ill. — Terrance Freeney's 4-yard run midway through the fourth quarter sealed the win as Northern Iowa (3-1) beat Illinois State (3-2).
Demetru Johnson scored on a 16-yard run in the second quarter for Illinois State, which led 7-0 through three quarters.
SE Missouri 30, Eastern Illinois 17
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — James Oliver ran for 79 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run that led Southeast Missouri (1-5, 1-0 Ohio Valley) over Eastern Illinois (1-4, 0-1).
Eastern Illinois quarterback Andrew Harris completed 22 of 30 passes for 184 yards and ran for a team-high 55 yards.
Saint Xavier 37, St. Francis 0
Luke Schillo ran for three touchdowns as Saint Xavier (3-2, 1-0 Mid States Football Association) beat St. Francis in Mount Greenwood.
Guy Smith caught a 23-yard TD pass from John Perryman to get Sant Xavier started. Schillo, who had 52 yards rushing, scored on runs of 3 and 2 yards in the second quarter and added a 3-yard run in the third. Tom Pappas had an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
Joliet Junior College 53, Rock Valley 0
Host Joliet Junior College (5-1 overall, 4-1 N4C) piled up 325 rushing yardage, scoring eight touchdowns on the ground in the rout of Rock Valley College. Sophomore defensive end Rob Ninkovich (Lincoln-Way Central) recorded a sack and had an outstanding overall game for Joliet.
DePauw 51, Chicago 10
GREENCASTLE, Ind. — Ross Wiethoff and Matt King each ran for two touchdowns as DePauw (3-2) beat Chicago (1-3). Sam Owens had a 1-yard TD run for Chicago.
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