But Hawkeye fans could breathe easily again after Akrum Wadley improved Iowa’s lead 55-16 with a touchdown run, cracking 50 points for the first time since Iowa’s 59-3 win over Western Michigan in 2013.
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Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and North Texas head coach Dan McCarney reflect on memories before the game.
The Mean Green cashed in on the next play when wide receiver Carlos Harris threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Loving after taking a pitch from quarterback Andrew McNulty, cutting UNT’s deficit to 28-13. The first quarter ended with Iowa leading North Texas 14-0, which proved to be a sign of things to come.
It was apparent from the opening drive that the Hawkeyes weren’t going to overlook the Mean Green.
A rare mistake by Canzeri, who fumbled, set up North Texas for a 38-yard field goal from Trevor Moore.
Jordan Canzeri cashed in that turnover with a 1-yard touchdown run.
This could have been a trap game for Iowa, after a thrilling last-second win last week over Pittsburgh and a crucial league matchup looming next week in Madison.
Beathard’s string of completions to open the game was the longest for a Big Ten quarterback since former Wisconsin standout Russell Wilson hit on his first 16 in a 2011 game. Beathard finished 18-of-21 for 278 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters of action.
“The offensive line was giving me good protection all day so it was easy to pick coverages out and pick apart (the) defense”, Beathard said. The team was outgained 488 to 356 yards and allowed the Iowa rushing offense to do as they pleased for the majority of the game. The Hawkeye defense continued to step up late in the third quarter when Josey Jewell picked off McNulty and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, increasing Iowa’s lead to 48-16. “He’s getting more carries than he ever has, and he realizes that he’s taken a heavier load”.
CLOSING IN ON BARRY: The first person Ferentz says he met in Iowa was Alvarez, who picked him up at the airport for his interview with Fry. “It’s probably four or five guys that I think I’ve worked with that we end up being on the opposite sidelines, and that’s not much fun, quite frankly”, Ferentz said. “He’s doing a great job”.
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UNT has been without starting cornerback Kenny Buyers all year due to a back injury and lost backup safety Cedric Fernandes to a knee injury last week in its loss to Rice. Iowa has had at least one interception returned for touchdown in eight consecutive seasons.
