Big rally saves unbeaten Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Ricky Stanzi overcame a career-high five interceptions to throw two long touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, helping No. 7 Iowa rally for a 42-24 victory over Indiana on Saturday.

Brandon Wegher had a career-high 118 yards rushing and three TDs for the Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten), who scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to stun the shell-shocked Hoosiers.

Iowa is off to the best start in school history, thanks to four wins by three points or less. And after needing two blocked field goals to beat FCS school Northern Iowa in its opener, the Hawks control their own destiny in the Big Ten – with a chance to play for the BCS title.

It almost came undone on a windy day in Iowa City, where Stanzi threw four picks in the third quarter alone and Indiana (4-5, 1-4) took a 24-14 lead into the fourth.

Stanzi’s mental toughness has long been defended by his coach, Kirk Ferentz, and he showed why at the start of the fourth quarter.

Stanzi hit Marvin McNutt for a 92-yard touchdown pass and, moments later, connecting with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos from 66 yards to put Iowa ahead 28-24 with 11:38 left.

Wegher made it 35-24 on a 6-yard TD run and added a 27-yard score with 1:12 remaining.

As a stunned and delighted crowd of Iowa fans filled out of Kinnick Stadium, they were serenaded – quite fittingly – by Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer.”

Ben Chappell had 227 yards passing and two touchdowns to lead Indiana, which blew a 25-point lead in a loss at Northwestern last week.