IOWA CITY, Iowa — Mark Weisman ran for 177 yards, 155 in the first half, to lead Iowa to a 31-13 win over Minnesota on Saturday and give the Hawkeyes possession of the Floyd of Rosedale bronze pig trophy.

Christian Kirksey’s 68-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Iowa (3-2), which bounced back from last week’s disappointing 32-31 loss to Central Michigan to win the Big Ten opener for both schools.

Minnesota (4-1) was off to its best start since 2008, but couldn’t get anything going on offense Saturday. Max Shortell threw three interceptions and the Gophers managed only 75 yards in the first half. The Hawkeyes scored three touchdowns during a six-minute span of the second quarter to jump out to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Weisman punched in an 8-yard run on the first play of the quarter.

Then the Gophers went three-and-out, and Iowa’s normally conventional offense pulled a surprise with a flea-flicker on the first play of the drive. Weisman pitched the ball back to James Vandenberg, and the senior quarterback found a wide-open Jordan Cotton for a 47-yard score.

Minnesota was forced to punt again and Micah Hyde’s 27-yard punt return gave Iowa the ball at midfield. Six plays later, Vandenberg’s 1-yard dive into the end zone finished off the drive.

Weisman only carried five times in the second half.

Weisman, a fullback-turned-tailback, was inserted into Iowa’s starting lineup because of injuries, and the walk-on has responded with 507 yards and seven touchdowns the last three games.

Minnesota won the previous two meetings with Iowa, rallying from behind in both games to win the rivalry trophy. The Gophers couldn’t muster a comeback this time.

Minnesota lost a fumble to open the second half. Shortell responded with a 79-yard drive that ended in a 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Fruechte, cutting the Hawkeyes’ lead to 24-7 midway through the third quarter.

The Gophers had three more possessions without Iowa scoring, but Minnesota punted once and Shortell threw two interceptions — the second returned for a TD by Kirksey after the linebacker made a nice play to catch the ball.

Quarterback MarQueis Gray missed his second straight game for Minnesota, which hasn’t won at Kinnick Stadium since 1999.

Saturday was Kirk Ferentz’s 200th game as Iowa’s head coach.

w/ Chris Parks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Jim Field and Chris Parks have the call from Coon Rapids.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (190.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

SAN DIEGO (AP) – The San Diego Chargers will have a new kicker Sunday in Kansas City, with the team saying regular kicker Nate Kaeding didn’t make the trip for the game.

On the injury report Friday, Kaeding was listed as questionable because of a right groin injury.

The team said Nick Novak traveled to Kansas City, but that an official transaction hadn’t been made. The Chargers have until Sunday to officially sign Kaeding and announce the corresponding move.

Novak made 27 of 34 field goals last season in the final 15 games after Kaeding injured a knee in the opener. Novak was in the Chargers’ camp with Kaeding, but was cut late in the preseason.

In other injury news, left tackle Jared Gaither was listed as questionable with a back injury. He missed the entire preseason due to injury and resumed practice on Wednesday. Although he was a full participant at Friday’s practice, Chargers coach Norv Turner considered it difficult for him to step right in and start. Inside linebacker Demorrio Williams (hamstring) was also listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Cornerback Quentin Jammer (hand) and outside linebacker Antwan Barnes (knee) were listed as probable.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Allen Craig matched his career best with four hits to go with two RBIs, Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run and the St. Louis Cardinals punished Edwin Jackson and the Washington Nationals early in a 12-2 victory Friday night to win a match-up of teams on the cusp of clinchers.

Roger Bernadina homered for Washington, which had its magic number for wrapping up the NL East reduced to two when Atlanta lost to the Mets. The Nationals, who secured the first postseason berth for Washington, D.C., since 1933 a week earlier, lead the Braves by four games with five to play and could wrap up the division title Saturday night.

Adam Wainwright (14-13) halted a string of four so-so starts with six solid innings for the Cardinals, whose magic number is three for securing the second NL wild card.

Girls
1.  Griswold            33
2.  Shenandoah/Essex    47
3.  Lewis Central          94

Individudals
1.  Rebekah Topham, Griswold
2.  Jordyn Sindt, Griswold
3.  Tiffany Shepherd, Corning
4.  Alyx Flippin, Griswold

Boys
1.  Shenandoah/Essex    31
2.  Glenwood        42
3.  Thomas Jefferson    83

Individuals
1.  Sean Skillern, Shenandoah/Essex
2.  Zac McCoy, Shenandoah/Essex
3.  James Fuller, Glenwood
4.  Jeff Reeve, Glenwood

Girls Class A 

1. Winterset            68
2. Creston                71
3. ADM                73
4. Dallas Center-Grimes        104
5. Perry                129
6. Bondurant-Farrar        150
7. Atlantic                167
8. Carlisle                201
9. Boone                223
10. Saydel                257

Individuals
1.  Madison Waymire, DC-G
2.  Brianna Mueller, ADM
3.  Maria Mostek, Creston
6.  Tiffany Williams, Atlantic

Girls Class B 

1. Earlham                41
2. Roland-Story            58
3. Madrid                110
4. Greene County            111
5. Panorama            131
6. West Central Valley        154
7. Ogden                159
8. Guthrie Center            161
9. Van Meter            163

Individuals
1.  Abby Murphy, Earlham
3.  Destiny Scar, NV
4.  Therese Frels, GC

Boys Class A

1. Boone                23
2. Dallas Center-Grimes        70
3. Bondurant-Farrar        98
4. Creston                156
5. ADM                 158
6. Perry                159
7. Carlisle                191
8. Winterset            200
9. Saydel                204
10. Atlantic                207

Individuals
1.  Chandler Austin, Boone
28.  Ryan Hawkins, Atlantic

Boys Class B

1. Guthrie Center            74
2. Woodward Academy        75
3. Roland-Story            114
4. Earlham                129
5. Greene County            141
6. Nodaway Valley        143
7. Panorama            145
8. Ogden                161
9. Van Meter            172
10. Madrid                199
11. West Central Valley        344

Individuals
1.  Cassidy Warson, Madrid
8.  Eddy Halbur, GC

w/ Jim Field

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (776.2KB)

Subscribe: RSS

(3-0) Abraham Lincoln 25-25-25, Atlantic 20-17-12
(3-1) Exira-EHK 26-25-25-26, Ankeny Christian Academy 28-14-17-24
(3-2) Red Oak 25-16-25-16-15, Clarinda 16-25-22-25-11
(3-1) Underwood 25-26-14-25, Missouri Valley 17-24-25-18
(3-1) Nishnabotna 20-25-25-25, Villisca 25-14-18-17
(3-0) Stanton 25-25-25, Essex 16-14-10
(2-1) Charter Oak-Ute 18-25-15, Sioux City West 25-18-6
(2-1) Charter Oak-Ute 26-15-15, Westwood 24-25-9
(3-0) Grandview Park Baptist 25-25-25, Orient-Macksburg 13-6-13
(2-0) Newton 21-21, Iowa Christian Academy 5-6
(2-0) Van Meter 21-21, Iowa Christian Academy 12-7