IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Mekhi Sargent scored on a 2-yard TD run with 4:47 left and Iowa beat Iowa State 13-3 on Saturday for the fourth year in a row. Miguel Recinos added a pair of field goals for the Hawkeyes (2-0). Iowa’s winning streak over the Cyclones (0-1) is the longest since the Hawkeyes took 15 straight from 1983-97.

The latest matchup between these two instate rivals was mostly a slog between what could be two of the better defenses in the country. But Iowa finally put together a decent drive when it mattered most by going 83 yards in 13 plays — highlighted by a 30-yard reception by Brandon Smith to set up Sargent’s touchdown.

Kyle Kempt threw for 126 yards for Iowa State before leaving with what appeared to be a leg injury, and Iowa held the Cyclones to 188 yards overall. Iowa State’s David Montgomery ran for just 44 yards on 17 carries. Nate Stanley was 16 of 28 passing for the Hawkeyes.
THE TAKEAWAY
Iowa State: The Cyclones defense, which was so good in 2017, looked like it hadn’t lost a beat. But Iowa State couldn’t find a way to get Montgomery in space, and its offensive line couldn’t crack many holes for him between the tackles either. The bigger concern moving forward will be Kempt though.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes have the makings of a special defense, and that could lead to a special season in Iowa City — especially with what appears to be an easy schedule. Iowa’s wide receivers struggled mightily until the game-deciding drive, and its passing game as a whole has been subpar through two games. But with the way their defense has been playing, that hasn’t mattered much yet.

UP NEXT
The Cyclones host No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday.
Iowa hosts Northern Iowa of the FCS on Saturday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The lightning delays and eventual cancellation of the University of Nebraska-Akron football game demonstrates how schools can detect or respond to dangerous thunderstorms. Various versions of the detection system that alerted a Nebraska official at the season opener in Lincoln on Sept. 1 are being employed by schools nationwide. Some schools use weather-alert apps loaded onto smartphones
“Safety has become a much bigger issue over the years,” said John Jensenius, a Maine-based lightning expert with the National Weather Service. “(Schools) are taking action to try and keep people safe.”

Roughly 300 people are struck each year in the United States, experts say, and more than 30 don’t survive. The university’s WeatherSentry system detected a strike within 8 miles of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln after Nebraska received the opening kickoff. The lightning required a 30-minute delay in play, and subsequent strikes restarted the 30-minute clock.

Athletic director Jeff Novotny at Abraham Lincoln High in Council Bluffs, Iowa, told the Omaha World-Herald that he sets his phone app to alert him when lightning is spotted within 30 miles of an event. That lets him tell game officials that play might have to be suspended. When the strikes get within about 10 miles, play is suspended.

National guidelines for high schools call for suspending play for 30 minutes if lightning is seen or thunder is heard. The 30-minute clock is restarted if lightning or thunder occurs again.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a northwest Des Moines high school homecoming football game was brought to a sudden end when gunshots were fired in a parking lot near the stadium.

The Des Moines Register reports that about two minutes remained in the game between Herbert Hoover and Des Moines North high schools at Hoover’s McGrane Stadium when the shots rang out. No one was injured by gunfire, but the shots led to a chaotic scene as people ran from the stands and scrambled out gates.

The stadium was cleared of any remaining people and the game ended, with Hoover leading 21-18. Des Moines Police Sgt. Rodrigo Santizo says an unknown number of shots were fired, but Byron Jarrett, who was watching the game with his children, said he heard about 20 shots.

No arrests had been reported by Saturday morning. Police say some shell casings were recovered about a block from the stadium.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Ric Hanson.

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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3. Marcell Ozuna homered twice for St. Louis, which has lost four of six. The Cardinals hold a slim lead for the second NL wild-card spot. The Tigers won their third in a row.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs safety Eric Berry is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Chargers in Los Angeles after missing most of training camp and all four preseason games with a heel injury. Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder and coach Andy Reid said this week that Berry was “literally day to day,” but he did not take part in any practices.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Eddie Rosario homered, Ehire Adrianza had three hits and three RBIs and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-6 to snap a five-game skid. Trevor May, one of six Minnesota relievers, picked up the win with two shutout innings. Salvador Perez homered and Jorge Bonifacio had three hits for the Royals, who have lost three straight after winning eight of nine.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State has unveiled a master plan encompassing more than $200 million in planned renovations touching nearly every aspect of its athletic department, highlighted by a new practice facility for the football program and an overhaul of Bramlage Coliseum.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa sophomore Luka Garza had surgery to remove a benign cyst in his abdomen and is out indefinitely. Coach Fran McCaffery says the procedure “went well” and Garza’s expected to rejoin the team later this fall. He was one of the few standouts in a lost season for the Hawkeyes a year ago. The 6-foot-11 Garza started 26 games and led the Hawkeyes in blocked shots with 32. He joined Jess Settles as the only freshmen in school history to score 400 points and grab 200 rebounds.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Troubled former Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been arrested in Kansas on suspicion of rape. Records show that Randle was booked into Sedgwick County Jail at around 3:40 a.m. Friday. The prosecutor’s office wasn’t releasing information, and a police spokesman and Randle’s attorney in previous cases didn’t immediately reply to phone messages seeking details about his latest arrest.

The Griswold Tigers fought hard on Friday night but couldn’t keep pace with the East Mills Wolverines and suffered a 51-22 loss on the gridiron. The Wolverines raced out to an early 16-0 lead behind two big plays. East Mills quarterback Michael Schafer hit Nic Duysen for the first score on a 27 yard touchdown pass on a 4th and 11 play to open the scoring. Schafer then hit Riley Story for a 50-yard touchdown on a screen play to put East Mills up 16-0.

The Tigers would answer back with a 7 play drive that was capped off by a Jayden Amend 13 yard touchdown run. The Tigers would take advantage of the Wolverines being pinned deep in the second quarter to punch another score in on a Derek Mueller 1 yard touchdown run that tied the game up at 16. The ensuing kickoff would go out of bounds for an illegal procedure call and the Wolverines chose to make the Tigers kick again. That decision payed off in the form of a Riley Story 60 yard kick return touchdown to immediately put the Wolverines back out front. The Wolverines would add another score before half to take a 30-16 lead into halftime.

The Wolverines then amped up the offense in the 3rd quarter and out-gained the tigers 170-9. East Mills owned the third quarter and raced away to a 44-22 lead before later taking in one more score to give the final score of 51-22.

Griswold Head Coach Andy Everett was proud of the way his team fought hard throughout the game and saw signs of improvement from the entire team. He felt the Tigers showed a lot of grit by continuing to  play hard when breaks weren’t going their way.

East Mills improves to 3-0 on the season and will travel to Bedford next week. The Tigers fall to 0-3 and will next host Sidney on Friday night.

Chris Parks, Jim Field, Matt Mullenix, and Doug Leonard take a look at 8 area high school football games each week. We try to provide some insight into the match-ups while competing for top prognosticator and the Whosman Trophy.

Last Week:

Matt Mullenix 5-3
Chris Parks 5-3
Jim Field 4-4
Doug Leonard 3-5

Overall Standings:

Matt Mullenix 11-5
Chris Parks 11-5
Jim Field 10-6
Doug Leonard 8-8

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KJAN Sports Director Chris Parks’ weekly discussion with Atlantic Head Football Coach Mike McDermott. The Trojans are coming off a loss last week to Creston O-M to even their record at 1-1. This week Atlantic welcomes in another Hawkeye Ten foe in the Clarinda Cardinals (1-1).

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa sophomore Luka Garza had surgery Friday to remove a benign cyst in his abdomen and is out indefinitely. Coach Fran McCaffery says Garza’s procedure “went well.” He says the Hawkeyes look forward to him rejoining the team this fall.

Garza was one of the few standouts in a lost season for the Hawkeyes a year ago. The 6-foot-11 Garza started 26 games and led the Hawkeyes in blocked shots with 32. He joined Jess Settles as the only freshmen in school history to score 400 points and grab 200 rebounds.

Iowa went 14-19 in 2017-18. The Hawkeyes open their regular season on Nov. 8 at home against UMKC.