Iowa grinds out a 17-13 win over Ball State

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- It wasn't pretty, but the Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0) grind out a Kirk Ferentz type game against a focused, but tired Ball State (1-1) team, out of the MAC, at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Iowa played for 60 minutes, especially finished strong in the fourth quarter for the second straight win of the '14 season.

Trailing 13-3 with 5:50 remaining, junior QB Jake Rudock led the Iowa team on two fourth quarter touchdown drives to send the Hawkeyes to a 17-13 come-from-behind victory over Ball State to give the Kinnick fans something to celebrate, after a unproductive three quarters, highlighted by two Iowa turnovers and three missed field goals by the Hawkeyes.

Taking over at its own 31 with 5:50 remaining, Iowa used a 10-play, 69-yard drive to stay alive. Rudock completed 5-of-7 passes for 38 yards and rushed for 26 more during the series. On third-and-6 from the Ball State 30, Rudock connected with sophomore Matt VandeBerg for eight yards for a first down.

After Rudock scrambled for 10 yards on first down, the junior tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman Derrick Willies, cutting the Cardinals' lead to 13-10 with 2:52 remaining. The touchdown catch was the first of Willies career.

Needing a three-and-out, the Hawkeye defense produced bottling up Cardinals' senior running back Jahwan Edwards for a three yards on first down before tackling him for a 3-yard loss on second down. Ball State was forced to punt after its third-down pass was incomplete, and Iowa took over at its own 44 with 2:23 left.

Rudock opened the go-ahead drive with a 16-yard completion to junior Tevaun Smith and a 9-yard pass to senior Damon Bullock, moving the ball to the Ball State 34. Rudock followed with a 6-yard pass to junior Jake Duzey, and two plays later he connected with the junior tight end for a 12-yard touchdown catch, giving Iowa its first lead 59 minutes into the contest.

Rudock shined in the clutch, finishing 9-of-11 for 81 yards and throwing two touchdowns during the final two series. He also had 33 yards rushing over the final 5:50.

"We needed to make a stop there at the end, and we didn't do it," said Ball State head coach Pete Lembo, in his fourth season. "We had a shot, and we didn't finish. We have good kids in the program and a good staff, but that doesn't take the sting away."

Iowa's defense sealed the victory when junior Drew Ott sacked Ball State sophomore quarterback Ozzie Mann on second-and-2 from the Ball State 33. Senior Carl Davis recovered, sending the Hawkeyes to their second victory.

Iowa doubled up the Cardinals in total offense, out-gaining Ball State, 455-219, in the game, and it had 27-13 advantage in first downs. The Hawkeyes had 113 yards rushing on 29 attempts, while Rudock had career-bests in completions, attempts, and yards, finishing 35-of-55 attempts for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the team with 36 rushing yards on seven carries.

Eleven different Iowa players had at least one reception in the game. Senior Kevonte Martin-Manley had eight catches for 70 yards, while Smith and Bullock caught six balls apiece for 59 and 32 yards, respectively.

The Hawkeye defense limited Ball State to 90 yards rushing on 36 attempts, 129 yards through the air, and the Cardinals were just 4-of-16 on third downs. Ott led the team with a career-high 13 tackles (six solo), including three tackles for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble.

Ott was clearly the MVP of today's defense. He was active all game.

"Iowa's defense was as advertised," said Lembo. "They are big, strong, physical, and you have to earn everything you get against them. This is an Iowa football game they just played. They don't panic, stick to the plan, and they aren't going to give you cheap ones. They wear you down in the second half, and that is what they did to us."

Mann completed 15-of-30 attempts for 129 yards for Ball State, while Edwards rushed 21 times for 81 yards. Junior wide receiver KeVonn Mabon had three catches for 44 yards, and  sophomore middle linebacker Zack Ryan had 10 tackles (seven solo) in the game. Ryan is the younger brother of Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan.

After trailing 7-3 at the break, the Cardinals used an 11-play, 50-yard drive to push their lead to 10-3 on the first possession of the second half. Ball State was set to punt after a three-and-out, but the drive churned on when senior Louis Trinca-Pasat was flagged for a running into the punter.

Ball State moved into Iowa territory on a pass interference penalty and a 26-yard pass to Mabon moved the Cardinals into the red zone. Iowa's defense held, getting an 11-yard sack on an intentional grounding call, before Ball State was forced to settle on senior Scott Secor's 42-yard field goal.

The Cardinals forced Iowa's second turnover on the ensuing kickoff when senior Quintin Cooper knocked the ball loose from redshirt freshman Jonathan Parker and sophomore Aaron Taylor recovered, giving Ball State possession at the Iowa 23. The Hawkeyes gave up an 11-yard Banks rush on the first play of the series before buckling down and holding Ball State to Secor's 27-yard field goal attempt.

Iowa drove 59 yards to the Ball State 11-yard line on its first series of the second half, using seven rushes by senior Mark Weisman and junior Jordan Canzeri and a pair of Rudock-to-Smith passes to the 11. Iowa came away pointless when true freshman Mick Ellis missed a 29-yard field goal wide left -- the team's third missed field goal of the game.

Ball State led 7-3 at the half, despite the Hawkeyes outgaining the Cardinals, 208-91. Ball State scored the game's first touchdown off an Iowa turnover, and the Hawkeyes left six points on the field, courtesy of two missed field goals.

Iowa had seven points taken off the board on its second drive of the game after a 38-yard senior Damond Powell touchdown reception was ruled incomplete by instant replay. Sophomore quarterback C.J. Beathard led Iowa into Ball State territory in his first playing time of the season, completing 2-of-3 passes for 20 yards.

After forcing a three-and-out, Iowa's offense took over in Ball State territory and moved the ball into the red zone courtesy of a pass interference penalty and three-straight sophomore LeShun Daniels, Jr., rushing attempts. Iowa couldn't capitalize, and it came away empty, as junior Marshall Koehn's 35-yard field goal missed wide left.

Ball State's defense scored the game's first points, forcing a turnover on Iowa's first possession of the second quarter. On first-and-10 from its own 37, Parker fumbled on a jet sweep, where Cardinals' reserve defensive lineman Blake Dueitt scooped up the ball and rumbled 35-yards for the touchdown, giving Ball State a 7-0 lead.

The Hawkeyes answered on the ensuing possession, driving 67 yards over six plays to cut the lead to 7-3 with 11:23 left in the second quarter. Rudock opened the series with a 12-yard completion to junior Jacob Hillyer before finding junior Jordan Canzeri for a career-long 50-yard reception down to the Ball State 13.

After a five-yard completion to Smith to the 8, junior tight end Henry Krieger-Coble dropped a crossing route at the 2, forcing the Hawkeyes to settle on Koehn's 26-yard field goal.

Iowa had its best drive on its final series of the first half, moving 57 yards over 12 plays. Rudock completed his first six passes on the drive for 7, 6, 19, 11, 3, and 19 yards to three different receivers, moving the ball to the Ball State 26. After a pair of incompletions and a seven-yard Rudock scramble into the red zone, Iowa elected to go for the points with the clock winding down, but it came away empty when Koehn's 37-yard field goal sailed wide left.

Iowa has a couple new placekickers and a new punter leading the special teams in '14. Iowa is using a new kick returner and punt returner. The Hawkeyes have new holder and deep snapper. The special teams didn't play well, with three missed field goals and one turnover.

With a big in-state rivarly game ahead, Iowa needs to clean up in all three phases of the game. Many expected an offensive game from either of today's opponents, but it turned out to be a grind out defensive game.

The Hawkeyes return to action Saturday, hosting Iowa State (0-2) in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup at 2:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. The game is sold out.

Week 2 Game Day: Iowa vs. Ball State at Kinnick Stadium

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) head football coach Kirk Ferentz sees a lot of Northern Illinois in Saturday's foe Ball State (1-0). Both programs are out of the MAC. As a conference, the MAC has a lot of national games in Week 2 against Big 5 conference opponents.

Iowa struggled in back to back seasons against one of the MAC's top programs in Northern Illinois, finishing 1-1. Ball State is 0-2 during that period in MAC West race, finishing 7-1 last year behind NIU.

"When you're looking at Ball State, you're looking at a team that's similar to (Northern Illinois) in terms of the quality of their football and how they're coached," Ferentz said Tuesday during his weekly news conference inside the Hayden Fry Football Complex. "They're an excellent football team. They play well on the road, well at home, and are balanced offensively, defensively, and on special teams."

The Ball State Cardinals have won 17 of their last 19 regular season games. Ball State finished 10-3 overall last season, and opened its '14 campaign with a 30-10 victory over Colgate, limiting the Raiders to 227 yards and nine first downs. Colgate was 7-5, like UNI in FCS play in '13.

This is a different Ball State program today under head coach Pete Lembo, in his fourth season at the Muncie, Indiana school, best known for alumnus David Letterman. Lembo took over in 2011, after inheriting a 4-8 program.

The Cardinals have improved each season under Lembo, starting 6-6, 9-4 and 10-3. They are 0-2 in bowls, losing to UCF, then Arkansas State, during the past two seasons.

Ball State won at Virginia 48-27 in the only Big 5 conference match up for the Cardinals last year. Lembo beat IU in Bloomington 27-20 in his debut at Ball State in 2011. In 2012, the Cardinals lost at Clemson 52-27, but bounced back at IU with a 41-39 win. So, Ball State is 3-1 vs. Big 5, 2-0 vs. B1G, under Lembo.

The Ball State program is 0-2 in the Iowa series. The Cardinals have been shutout 101-0 combined. Iowa won 56-0 in 2005 and 45-0 in 2010, against two Ball State teams that were a combined 8-15, during the Brady Hoke and Stan Parish eras, respectively, at Ball State.

In '14, Ball State returns both kickers, five starters on offense and six starters on defense from last year. This is considered a rebuilding year in the MAC West, but for now they hope to reload and compete with the best that they face in '14?

Ball State had two 100-yard rushers in its opener (junior Horactio Banks, 134 yards; senior Jahwan Edwards, 109 yards), and first-year, sophomore quarterback Ozzie Mann threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Edwards entered 2014, as the top ground gainer, by career, of any FBS rusher returning in '14.

"They're balanced, and they want to be balanced", said Ferentz. "They've got good play-action off their running game, and their running game is effective and strong.

The Ball State offensive line returns three starters from last year, lead by pre-season all-MAC center, junior Jacob Richard.

"It is going to be another challenge for us. We're going to need to take a step forward and improve this week to be ready for another big game," Ferentz said ahead of the Week 2 game.

Junior Jordan Williams is the top returning wide receiver for Ball State in '14. As a receiving unit, there is less experience in '14 and the Cardinals are breaking in a new signal caller at quarterback, as already mentioned. QB Mann was 2-9 for 29 yards, one interception, in six games, as a freshman.

Ferentz was happy with the team's effort in its 31-23 victory over Northern Iowa, in the season opener, but he said the most displeasing part of the game was the Panthers' ability to produce big plays. Northern Iowa had seven plays of 20 or more yards that accounted for 279 of its 405 yards of total offense.

"Anytime you have something like that, it involves someone on the front end and the secondary," said Ferentz. "It's something we'll continue to work on. If we're going to have a good defensive ball club, we're going to have to eliminate those things, and that's a team thing."

Ferentz called sophomore Greg Mabin'sperformance in his Hawkeye debut one of the highlights. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native had four tackles and came up with the game-clinching interception.

"Greg did a good job his first time out," said Ferentz. "I think I'm safe saying just about anybody who hasn't played that did play did some positive things. Not that they can't get better, but at least there weren't any major gaffes or terrible breakdowns."

Ferentz says the team's downfield passing attack will come with time. Junior Jake Rudock completed 31-of-41 attempts for 256 yards, connecting with 13 different players, but only one completion went for more than 20 yards (a 46-yarder to Derrick Willies). Northern Iowa was flagged for two pass interference calls on two attempts down field.

"There were a couple of opportunities that maybe there was pressure and we didn't see it," said Ferentz. "That's part of offense, and there are going to be a couple of plays where you say `Geez, this was opening up.' As we move forward, we'll be a bit better at that and get a few more of those big plays in the repertoire."

Ferentz says the kicker and punter positions -- and all positions for that matter -- are open, but he is giving junior place kicker Marshall Koehn and junior newcomer punter Dillon Kidd every opportunity to succeed. Koehn was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts against Northern Iowa, while Kidd punted four times for an average of 36.2 yards.

"I know Marshall would have liked to have gotten that one field goal, and we'd feel better about that, and Dillon punted OK," said Ferentz. "He can punt better, has punted better, and I think that'll come.

"It's no good if they're looking over their shoulders. You can't do that. It's in fairness to both those guys that we've got to let them complete a little bit and perform, and then we'll see how it goes."

Ferentz said the time will come when redshirt sophomore C.J. Beathard will be inserted into a game as a change-of-pace quarterback, but when is still a question.

"It'll happen," said Ferentz. "I can't tell you when, I can't tell you if it's going to be this week or next week, but it'll happen. It's not a knock on him, but the game (against UNI) was just one of those deals. We'll figure that out, and we've talked about it, but whenever it happens, it'll happen."

Ball State at Iowa is one of many spotlight games that the MAC programs enjoy in Week 2 vs. Big 5 conference teams:

- Northern Illinois @ Northwestern
- Akron @ Penn State
- Central Michigan @ Purdue
- Missouri @ Toledo
- Eastern Michigan @ Florida
- Ohio U @ Kentucky
- Colorado @ UMass

Saturday's Iowa game will kick off at 2:35 p.m. (CT), and it will be televised on ESPN2 with Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway, and Paul Carcaterra on the call.

Our Prediction: Iowa 34, Ball State 14

We see QB Rudock as the player to click, as the Iowa Hawkeyes look to improve, which is expected between Week 1 and Week 2.

The linebackers for Iowa and back 7 on defense are new, with only two returning starters. Growing pains are likely to continue early in the season, as the Hawkeyes seek to prepare for the new B1G West division in 2014.