Video: No. 17 Iowa dominates second half at No. 21 Northwestern for 40-10 victory

Seventeenth-ranked Iowa came to No. 21 Northwestern with its two starting offensive tackles, a star defensive end and running back out.

Its top receiving threat and quarterback weren't 100 percent, and its starting running back left with an injury in the first half.

But the Hawkeyes dominated, particularly in the second half, taking full control of the Big Ten West race with a 40-10 victory.

Iowa is now 7-0 and 3-0 in the Big Ten, alone in first in the West, with one of the weakest remaining schedules among power five teams coming after next Saturday's bye week.

Akrum Wadley tied a single-game school record with four touchdowns, gaining 207 yards on 26 carries in replacing Jordan Canzeri.

Derrick Mitchell added a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

IOWA vs. NW - IOWA touchdown - ESPN Video

The Hawkeyes outscored the Wildcats 24-0 in the second half.

Quarterback C.J. Beathard was limited and went to the sideline in the fourth quarter, but the Hawkeyes didn't need him to be spectacular. He finished 15-of-25 for 176 yards and an interception.

As punishing as the offensive line was, Iowa's defense was again just as stellar. 

Northwestern (5-2, 1-2) gained just 198 yards and turned the ball over three times, the final one on a loud sack/forced fumble by Josey Jewell that led to a field goal.

C. Thorson sacked by J. Jewell for -10 yds,C. Thorson fumbled, forced by J. Jewell, recovered by Iowa P. Hesse - ESPN Video

What does it all mean? Here's Gazette columnist Mike Hlas' take:

Iowa is the best team in the Big Ten West.October 17, 2015

Iowa is the best team in the Big Ten West.

— Mike Hlas (@Hlas)

Kirk Ferentz postgame interview - ESPN Video

Third quarter

Wadley scored his third and fourth touchdowns of the game and the Hawkeyes took a 30-10 lead after three quarters.

An offensive line missing two starters took over in the third quarter. A 12-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 6:24 was capped by Wadley's 2-yard run.

A. Wadley run for 24 yds for a 1ST down - ESPN Video

Northwestern fumbled an exchange on its next possession, and Jaleel Johnson recovered to put the Hawkeyes back in business.

J. Jackson run for -4 yds,J. Jackson fumbled, recovered by Iowa J. Johnson - ESPN Video

Wadley tied a school record with his fourth TD of the game, and suddenly the Hawkeyes were fully back in control.

This is his second career 100-yard rushing game. Both have come against Northwestern. 

A. Wadley run for 4 yds for a TD - ESPN Video

Second quarter

Marshall Koehn missed a 34-yard field goal as time expired that would have made it a two-possession lead.

After Iowa looked to be rolling when Wadley entered the game and scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second quarter for a 16-0 lead, Northwestern woke up.

The Wildcats had gained just 28 yards prior to a 77-yard scoring drive capped by a four-yard pass from Clayton Thorson to Christian Jones.

C. Thorson pass,to C. Jones for 4 yds for a TD - ESPN Video

On the next play, Beathard was picked off by Traveon Henry, who returned it to the 21.

C. Beathard pass intercepted,T. Henry return for 20 yds - ESPN Video

But the Iowa defense held, and the Wildcats settled for a 21-yard Jack Mitchell field goal to cut the lead to 16-10.

Already banged up going into the game, it got worse for Iowa when running back Canzeri left the game in the first quarter with a left ankle/leg injury.

But Wadley, who ran for over 100 yards filling in against the Wildcats last year, picked up where he left off with a 35-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter.

A. Wadley run for 35 yds for a TD - ESPN Video

Koehn missed the extra point and Iowa led 9-0.

After a poor punt gave the Hawkeyes good field position, Wadley reeled off an 18-yard run inside the 5, then finished it with a four-yard TD run.

IOWA vs. NW - ESPN Video

Iowa had 196 yards of offense to Northwestern's 118 in the first half.

Wadley rushed for 76 yards and two scores on nine carries, which proved to be a spark as Canzeri left with just five yards on four attempts.

Beathard was 10-of-17 for 126 yards and a pick.

His counterpart, Thorson, threw 11 straight incompletions at one point, and is 11-of-23 for 82 yards, a TD and an INT.

First quarter

An Iowa offense that is literally hobbled struggled in the first quarter against Northwestern, gaining just 64 yards until a beautiful 18-yard strike from C.J. Beathard to Matt VandeBerg in the final minute.

But Northwestern managed only 28, and the Hawkeyes led 3-0 thanks to a crucial turnover.

Following a Desmond King interception at the Northwestern 21 on the Wildcats' first possession, the Hawkeyes gained just 4 net yards. 

Beathard scrambled on 3rd and long, but stepped out of bounds with still open space in front of him, winced and looked quite gimpy.

Marshall Koehn connected from 36 yards out for a 3-0 lead.

To make things worse, running back Jordan Canzeri, who totaled a school-record 43 carries last week, went down with a left leg/ankle injury late in the first and was helped off the field.

Iowa's Canzeri helped off the field - ESPN Video

LeShun Daniels, the starter coming into the season, is dressed but not playing. Akrum Wadley has filled in for Canzeri.

As for King, that was his sixth pick of the year, tied for most in the country.

C. Thorson pass intercepted,D. King return for 4 yds - ESPN Video

Former Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey was impressed.

DESMOND KING! enough saidOctober 17, 2015

DESMOND KING! enough said

— Christian Kirksey (@chriskirksey20)