Iowa

Top-ranked Penn State rolls over No. 3 Iowa, 29-6

Published

8 months ago

February 10, 2024

Top-ranked Penn State rolls over No. 3 Iowa, 29-6

Iowa Hawkeye junior, Cullen Schriever, gets held by Penn State sophomore, Aaron Nagao, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Friday, February 9, 2024. (Amir Prellberg/Freelance)

IOWA CITY – Drake Ayala provided Iowa with an early spark.

Caleb Rathjen stoked the flames briefly a few matches later.

Outside of that, top-ranked Penn State scorched No. 3 University of Iowa, 29-6, in a Big Ten Conference dual Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 14,487 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Cael Sanderson collected his 200th dual win at Penn State and the Hawkeyes suffered consecutive dual losses for the first time since January 2018.

“We weren’t ready and, the thing is, you’re wrestling guys like that and they have a high-powered team,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “They score a lot of points. We have to be ready, like beyond ready. And, if you just think you’re ready and it’s normal, it’s not normal. That’s not a normal team.

“That’s not me putting them on a pedestal. That’s not me conceding anything. We’ve got to be better when we go out there.”

Penn State (9-0, 6-0) won eight matches and posted bonus points in five.

“We’re just trying to get better every match,” Sanderson said. “Obviously, Iowa does a great job of preparing for your guys. They always do a good job of showing you what you need to work on.

“We can walk from here knowing what we need to work on to get better.”

The Hawkeyes (10-2, 5-2) seemed ready at the start. Seventh-ranked Ayala scored in the first 30 seconds of his 125-pound bout against No. 2 Braedon Davis. The takedown was enough in a 4-2 decision that handed Davis his first loss and give Iowa a short-lived 3-0 lead.

“He needed that,” Brands said. “He had a little adversity and he needed that.”

The only other bright spot came at 149 when 12th-ranked Rathjen upended No. 10 Tyler Kasak in a wild 11-8 decision in sudden victory.

Rathjen built a 6-2 lead after two periods, scoring takedowns in each of the first two frames. Kasak stormed back with two takedowns in the third and force overtime.

Rathjen hit a high-crotch single leg attack and limp-armed out of a whizzer to go behind for the winning score.

“Looked like he was fading,” Brands said. “Guy scored two takedowns on us in the third and we get the takedown in sudden victory and he sure didn’t look like he was fading. He liked to whoop it up and, I’ll tell you what, I was whooping it up with him.

“It shows you can score. You can score when you’ve got to score, so keep scoring. Widen that gap.”

The celebration didn’t last long as deafening cheers turned to murmurs after Penn State pulled away and closed with six straight wins.

Penn State’s top-ranked trio Levi Haines (157), Carter Starocci at 174 and heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet all won by major decision. No. 7 Mitchell Messenbrink topped No. 6 Michael Caliendo, 12-6.

Top-ranked 197-pounder Aaron Brooks handed Iowa’s No. 11 Zach Glazier his first loss of the season. Brooks won, 5-1.

The Nittany Lions owned a 21-5 advantage in takedowns. They also secured riding-time points in six victories.

“We have to score more takedowns,” Brands said. “We have to get off the bottom in five weights. I don’t know how much riding time there was combined but it was a lot.”

In a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2, Penn State’s top-ranked Beau Bartlett scored takedowns in the first and third periods to beat No. 2 Real Woods, 7-2, at 141. It is the second straight loss for Woods, a 2023 NCAA finalist.

“All of our guys wrestled pretty well,” Sanderson said. “A lot of good wins. I thought that was big (at 141). Really happy for Bartlett. He looked good. Wrestled great. Obviously, a tough opponent.”

The loss was Iowa’s worst since a 27-12 defeat to Oklahoma State in 2019. It was also Iowa’s lowest point total since a 21-9 loss to Ohio State on Jan. 20, 2012. Iowa suffered its first 20-point loss since a 30-10 setback to Oklahoma State on Jan. 11, 2004, under former Hawkeyes Coach Jim Zalesky.

Iowa hosts Wisconsin for Senior Day on Feb. 18.

“We have to put the pieces to together,” Brands said. “We have to be better. We have to be stronger. We have to be smarter as coaches and we have to come back strong. All of us.”

AT IOWA CITY

Penn State 29, Iowa 6

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds – Drake Ayala (I) dec. Braedon Davis, 4-2 (1,0)

133 – Aaron Nagao (PSU) major dec. Cullan Schriever, 11-0 (2,0)

141 – Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. Real Woods, 7-3 (2-0)

149 – Caleb Rathjen (I) dec. Tyler Kasak, 11-8 (3,2)

157 – Levi Haines (PSU) major dec. Jared Franek, 12-0 (3,0)

165 – Mitchell Messenbrink (PSU) dec. Michael Caliendo, 12-6 (3,1)

174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) major dec. Patrick Kennedy, 13-5 (4,0)

184 – Bernie Truax (PSU) major dec. Aiden Riggins, 8-0 (2,0)

197 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) dec. Zach Glazier, 5-1 (1,0)

Hwt. – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) major dec. Ben Kueter, 9-1 (2,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Penn State 21, Iowa 5. Reversals – Penn State 0, Iowa 0. Escapes – Penn State 12, Iowa 13. Nearfall points – Penn State 3, Iowa 0. Penalty points (awarded) – Penn State 3, Iowa 2. Riding time points – Penn State 6, Iowa 0. Total match points – Penn State 87, Iowa 30. Attendance – 14,847.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com

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Iowa

Fatal crash on I-35 in Iowa

Published

6 hours ago

October 13, 2024

Press Room

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (KTTC) – One person is dead after a single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Worth County.

According to Iowa State Patrol, around 1:45 p.m., a vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 35 in Worth County near the 208-exit ramp. The driver lost control of the vehicle, went into the median, through the cable barrier and struck the bridge pillar.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Iowa

Updating Iowa State rankings in college football polls ahead of UCF matchup

Published

14 hours ago

October 13, 2024

Press Room

Updating Iowa State rankings in college football polls ahead of UCF matchup

The latest college football polls have been released, and Iowa State keeps moving up.

Iowa State improved to 6-0 after beating West Virginia 28-16 on Saturday in Morgantown.

The Cyclones are now set for a matchup at home vs. UCF on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Iowa State rankings update

Where did Iowa State land?

On Sunday, Iowa State checked in at No. 12 in USATODAY US LBM coaches poll. Previously, the Cyclones were No. 13.

Iowa State climbed up to No. 9 in the newest AP Top 25 college football poll. Last week, the Cyclones were No. 11.

US LBM Coaches Poll

Here is a look at the new US LBM college football coaches poll top 25.

Texas
Oregon
Penn State
Georgia
Ohio State
Miami (Fla.)
Alabama
LSU
Clemson
Tennessee
Notre Dame
Iowa State
BYU
Texas A&M
Ole Miss
Missouri
Kansas State
Indiana
Boise State
Pittsburgh
Illinois
Michigan
SMU
Army West Point
Nebraska

Schools Dropped Out

No. 16 Oklahoma; No. 17 Utah

Others Receiving Votes

Oklahoma 81; Arizona State 49; Navy 37; Utah 31; Vanderbilt 26; Syracuse 13; UNLV 12; Iowa 12; Texas Tech 9; Liberty 9; Washington State 8; Memphis 4; Louisville 4; James Madison 3; Tulane 2

AP Poll

Here is a look at the new Associated Press college football poll top 25

Texas
Oregon
Penn State
Ohio State
Georgia
Miami (Fla.)
Alabama
LSU
Iowa State
Clemson
Tennessee
Notre Dame
BYU
Texas A&M
Boise State
Indiana
Kansas State
Ole Miss
Missouri
PIttsburgh
SMU
Illinois
Army West Point
Michigan
Navy

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Vanderbilt 68, Nebraska 62, Arizona St. 39, Oklahoma 36, Washington St. 32, Iowa 29, Texas Tech 18, Syracuse 13, Arkansas 13, Utah 7, Louisville 6, Southern Cal 5, Liberty 2, UNLV 1.

Reach Eugene Rapay at erapay@gannett.com and follow him on X/Twitter @erapay5.

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Iowa

Becht, Hansen lead No. 11 Iowa State over West Virginia 28-16 for first 6-0 start since 1938

Published

22 hours ago

October 13, 2024

Press Room

Becht, Hansen lead No. 11 Iowa State over West Virginia 28-16 for first 6-0 start since 1938

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht believes the Cyclones have yet to hit their peak during their best start in 86 years.

Carson Hansen rushed for three scores, Becht threw a touchdown pass and No. 11 Iowa State beat West Virginia 28-16 on Saturday night.

The Cyclones (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) opened the season with six wins for the first time since 1938.

“I feel like we haven’t even played our best game yet as a whole — special teams, defense, and offense,” Becht said. The goal is “finding ways to get better each and every single week, and our mindset is just 0-0 and trying to win that next game.”

Iowa State forged a first-place tie in the league with BYU and idle Texas Tech.

The Cyclones broke open a close game by scoring two touchdowns after intercepting West Virginia’s Garrett Greene in the second half.

Becht found Eli Green on passes of 12 and 34 yards on consecutive plays to set up the Cyclones at the West Virginia 17. A third-down holding call on West Virginia cornerback Ayden Garnes gave Iowa State first-and-goal at the 3, and Hansen scored on the next play for a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Jontez Williams made his third interception of the season on West Virginia’s next drive, and Iowa State took over at the Mountaineers’ 34. Hansen ran for 20 yards on the ensuing drive, capped by his 2-yard scoring run for a 28-10 lead with 4:42 left.

Hansen, a sophomore who also scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter, finished with 96 rushing yards, one shy of the career high he set last week against Baylor. He ran for a total of 67 yards during an injury-filled freshman season.

“For him to consistently play the way he has the last couple of weeks, it’s awesome to watch,” Becht said.

West Virginia (3-3, 2-1) was held to 148 rushing yards against the league’s top defense after amassing 389 yards on the ground a week ago at Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers were hurt by several high snaps that threw off their timing and runs parallel to the line of scrimmage that lost yardage.

“In the second half, when it was winning time, we didn’t win,” said West Virginia coach Neal Brown. “We struggled to get into a rhythm.”

Becht completed 18 of 26 passes for 265 yards, including a 60-yard scoring toss to Jaylin Noel in blown coverage in the second quarter.

Becht’s father, Anthony, was honored on the field after the first quarter for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He played tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996-99 and 11 seasons in the NFL.

“You couldn’t ask for a greater night for his family,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said.

Rocco Becht said he wished he could have been there with his dad, “but I had bigger things going on trying to win this game.”

Jahiem White had an 8-yard scoring run and a 10-yard TD catch for West Virginia. Greene finished 18 of 32 for 206 yards.

Iowa State: The Cyclones answered the challenge on both sides of the ball in winning their seventh straight road game. Becht played smart and efficient, and the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense was stout again.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers many too many mistakes at key times and now have lost eight consecutive games to ranked opponents.

Iowa State might have a tough time moving up when the AP poll comes out on Sunday. The Cyclones were tied at No. 11 with Notre Dame, which beat Stanford 49-7.

Iowa State: Hosts UCF on Saturday night.

West Virginia: Hosts No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday night.

___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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