Field Level Media
Nov 7, 2020
Tyler Goodson and Mekhi Sargent scored two rushing touchdowns apiece as Iowa opened up a 35-point halftime lead and notched its first victory this season by pounding Michigan State 49-7 in Iowa City on Saturday.
Goodson carried 14 times for 113 yards as Iowa's running game compiled 226 yards on 41 carries. Spencer Petras completed 15-of-27 passes for 167 yards for the Hawkeyes (1-2, 1-2).
Iowa's defense intercepted Spartans quarterback Rocky Lombardi three times in the first half. Lombardi completed 17-of-37 passes for 227 yards.
The Spartans (1-2, 1-2) didn't commit a turnover in their upset win over arch-rival Michigan a week earlier. It was a completely different story in their second consecutive road game.
Michigan State's running game was limited to 59 yards on 32 carries. Jalen Nailor caught four passes for 119 yards.
The Hawkeyes scored on offense, defense and special teams while jumping to a 35-0 lead by halftime.
Iowa scored on the game's first possession, driving 75 yards in eight plays. Goodson finished it off with a 3-yard run.
Lombardi was picked off by Jack Koerner on Michigan State's first possession and the Hawkeyes then drove 74 yards to make it 14-0. Petras found Brandon Smith on a 14-yard hookup for the score.
Petras completed two more passes to Smith on Iowa's next scoring drive. Goodson ran the final 9 yards to give his team a 21-point advantage early in the second quarter.
Lombardi got picked off again, but the Hawkeyes missed a field goal.
Michigan State also missed a field goal try later in the half.
Charlie Jones' 54-yard punt return with 1:57 remaining and Riley Moss' interception return from the same distance completed Iowa's big half.
The Spartans finally got on the board on Tyler Hunt's 1-yard scoring run early in the third quarter. Iowa soon answered on Sargent's 2-yard touchdown run. He scored his second touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard scamper. That completed a three-play, 45-yard drive.
--Field Level Media