Iowa holds off Arkansas State, 24-21

IOWA CITY -- The 13th-ranked Hawkeyes were favored by three touchdowns and everyone expected a blowout Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. What they got instead was a nervous 24-21 victory over a feisty Arkansas State squad that came to play.

Iowa (5-0 for the first time since 1995) jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but ASU kept its cool on the road and pulled within three points with 2:01 remaining after a 17-play, 68-yard TD march. Even though the ensuing on-sides kick was recovered by Iowa, ASU forced the Hawkeyes to go three-and-out and punt, but the visitors' last-gasp Hail Mary pass with no time on the clock fell incomplete and Iowa escaped.

Ricky Stanzi and Marvin McNutt hooked up on a pair of TD passes, but the running game struggled all day, and the defense was inconsistent against the no-quit ASU offense. Corey Leonard completed 22 of 40 passes for 216 yards and two TDs for the Red Wolves.

Stanzi was 18 of 26 for a season-high 296 yards and 3 TDs, but he also tossed two interceptions, including one that was returned 75 yards for a score that cut Iowa's lead to 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.