Wyoming Cowboys vs Iowa Hawkeyes Match Player Stats On Sep 02, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 2, 2017

Sophomore quarterback Nathan Stanley threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to tight end Noah Fant, and Iowa shut down Josh Allen and Wyoming 24-3 on Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa.

Stanley, making his first collegiate start, completed 8 of 15 passes for 125 yards with an interception as the Hawkeyes won for the 16th time in their last 17 season openers. Wide receiver Nick Easley caught a 45-yard touchdown pass while running back Akrum Wadley rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries for Iowa (1-0), which survived four turnovers.

Allen, a 6-foot-5, 233-pound junior quarterback who is expected to be among the top picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, was 23 of 40 for 174 yards with two interceptions. The Cowboys (0-1) were held to 59 yards rushing.

The Hawkeyes committed a pair of turnovers in a scoreless first quarter that produced only 109 combined total yards of offense. Freshman wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette fumbled away his first collegiate rushing attempt, and Wyoming cashed in when Cooper Rothe booted a 49-yard field goal 3:39 into the second quarter.

Iowa responded with a 65-yard drive, capped when Stanley rolled out and found Fant on fourth-and-goal from the 2. Stanley hit Fant over the middle for a 27-yard touchdown 22 seconds before halftime to give the Hawkeyes a 14-3 lead at the break. Iowa got the ball at the Cowboys 32 with 27 seconds left when freshman punter Tim Zaleski fumbled the snap and could not get the kick away.

Iowa extended its lead to 21-3 when Stanley connected with Easley in the third quarter. Wyoming had a chance to cut the deficit later in the period, but wide-open wide receiver C.J. Johnson could not corral a would-be 36-yard touchdown catch and Rothe missed a 47-yard field goal.

Miguel Recinos added a 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.