AMES, Iowa (AP) – LaMarcus Hicks returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown and Iowa State capitalized on turnovers for all its points to stun No. 8 Iowa 23-3 Saturday.

Iowa State (2-0) came up with an inspired effort on defense a week after struggling in a 32-21 victory over Division I-AA Illinois State, recovering three fumbles, intercepting two passes and getting three sacks.

Iowa (1-1) scored with ease in a 56-0 rout of Ball State in its opener, but the Hawkeyes were so inept offensively in this one that they never got closer to the end zone than the Iowa State 26.

The Hawkeyes got 140 yards rushing on 18 carries from Albert Young but had little else going. Their lone score was a 44-yard field goal by Kyle Schlicher in the third quarter.

Even worse, Iowa lost quarterback Drew Tate with an apparent concussion midway through the second quarter. His availability for next Saturday’s game with Northern Iowa was uncertain.

Iowa State was hardly overwhelming on offense, managing a modest 323 total yards. But it wasn’t necessary with the way Iowa self-destructed.

While the most anticipated game in the in-state rivalry in years didn’t live up to the hype, it drew a crowd of 54,290 – the largest at Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium since it was reconfigured in 1996 – in 90-degree heat.

Iowa State’s students were so eager that hundreds were in their seats two hours before kickoff, spurning all the tailgating parties in the parking lots.

Trailing 16-3, Iowa had a chance to make it interesting, driving to a first down at the Iowa State 30 midway through the fourth quarter. Three plays later, though, Scott Chandler fumbled after catching a pass. Hicks recovered at the Iowa 20.

With black- and gold-clad Iowa fans streaming out of the stadium, Iowa State drove 80 yards in nine plays for the clinching touchdown. Bret Meyer’s 40-yard pass to Todd Blythe put the ball at the 2, and Ryan Kock bulled into the end zone on the next play.

Tate, the Big Ten’s preseason offensive player of the year, was hurt tackling Steve Paris after throwing an interception with Iowa trailing 9-0. He first was examined on the sideline, then walked to the locker room and watched the second half in sweat clothes.

Jason Manson, a junior who has played little in his career, replaced Tate. On his third play, he fired a pass to Ed Hinkel that Iowa State’s Adam Carper tipped. The ball went right to Hicks playing deep and he ran untouched down the left sideline, giving the Cyclones a 16-0 lead.

Paris’ interception and 18-yard return to the Iowa 46 had set up Tony Yelk’s 29-yard field goal that made it 9-0.

Iowa State failed to capitalize on Iowa’s first turnover, a fumble that Matt Robertson recovered at his 44. The Cyclones turned the ball back over when Meyer’s pass glanced off Blythe and was intercepted by Adam Shada.

The next time the Hawkeyes coughed it up, however, Iowa State took advantage.

Brian Ferentz, the son of coach Kirk Ferentz, snapped the ball over Tate’s head in shotgun formation. Tate and Young both hesitated as they closed in on the ball, as if thinking the other would jump on it, and Iowa State’s Jason Berryman swooped in to recover it at the Iowa 12 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.

After Meyer was stopped for no gain, he hit Austin Flynn on a crossing pattern and the former quarterback took into the end zone.

AP-ES-09-10-05 1921EDT

Copy the Story Link