116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Home / Sports / Columns & Sports Commentary
Pinstripe Bowl: ISU trails Rutgers 17-6 at halftime
Dec. 30, 2011 3:10 pm
NEW YORK - Miscues, mistakes and penalties have cost Iowa State in the first half of today's Pinstripe Bowl.
The Cyclones trail Rutgers 17-6 at halftime, and they've been the cause of much of their deficit. Iowa State had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown wiped out because of a holding call. The Cyclones have missed two field goals, and a quarterback fumble gave the Scarlet Knights the ball on the 4-yard line. Quarterback Jared Barnett was injured and did not return.
Iowa State (6-6) scored field goals on its first two possessions to take a 6-0 lead. But Rutgers rallied after missing a field goal to put together a 10-play, 74-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Jawan Jamison on fourth down and goal.
The Cyclones gave the ball back to Rutgers on the next possession. Barnett was hit and stripped by linebacker Khaseem Greene on third-and-12, and defensive end Scott Vallone picked up the ball and rambled to the 4-yard line. Iowa State's defense stiffened, however, and held Rutgers to a field goal.
On the next play, ISU returner Jarvis West returned the kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. But backup running back Tyler Leo was called for holding, bringing the ball back to ISU's 26. Steele Jantz replaced Barnett and drove the Cyclones to the Rutgers' 33, but the drive stalled in a missed 51-yard field-goal attempt. ISU also had a 44-yard field goal attempt blocked.
ISU has struggled on third down, converting just 1 of 8. The Cyclones have completed just 6-of-15 passes for 52 yards.
Rutgers then drove down the field, scoring on a 12-yard run by Jamison. The Scarlet Knights entered the game as the nation's 115th rushing offense at 91 yards per game. Rutgers now has 88 rushing yards.
Jamison has 61 yards on 11 carries. Rutgers started Chas Dodd, but Gary Nova played most of the second quarter.
[nggallery id=748]
Iowa State's Jake Knott (left) tries to bring down Rutgers' Michael Burton during the first half of their game during the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, in Bronx, New York. (SourceMedia Group News/Jim Slosiarek)