Halftime -- Hangover City

The Hawkeyes started with a flash, but lost steam as the first half closed with a 14-7 Iowa lead.

At one point in the first half, QB Ricky Stanzi was 5-for-5 for 91 yards and two TDs -- a 33-yarder to WR Trey Stross and a 41-yarder to WR Marvin McNutt. That's a QB efficiency of 384.88.

Obviously, that didn't hold up.

After driving for a 14-0 lead on its first two possession, less than five minutes into the game, Iowa went punt, punt, punt and half. During that stretch, Iowa failed to convert third-and-3, third-and-1 and third-and-8.

On defense, Arkansas State QB Corey Leonard played like the experienced senior that he is, completing 10 -f 13 for 110 yards and a TD.

Leonard pulled the Red Wolves within 14-7 with 44 seconds left before halftime when he connected with Brandon Thompkins for a 12-yard score. This was a nine-play, 89-yard, 3:59 drive against a defense that put a lid on Penn State last weekend. Leonard beat sophomore CB Willie Lowe, who was in the game for sophomore Shaun Prater, who suffered a sprained knee Wednesday. He might be back next week. Lowe had a lot of action go his way in the first half.

Iowa got pressure, but Leonard, a 6-1, 207-pounder, made plays. Really, he just made plays.

This is a dress rehearsal for Michigan next week at Kinnick. ASU runs a similar offense, but UM has much better running backs.

After holding ASU to 31 yards in the first quarter, Iowa's defense allowed 138 in the second. The fumble Iowa caused snuffed a good-looking drive at Iowa's 19 or this would've been closer.

On third down, ASU converted 3 of 6. Probably a little high going into Michigan.

Yeah, Michigan might be on their minds.