Rutgers Battles, But Comes Up Short Against Iowa, 14-7

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Akrum Wadley scored on 26-yard run on the play after Iowa's defense forced a turnover deep in Rutgers' territory and the Hawkeyes rebounded from their stunning loss to North Dakota State with a 14-7 victory over tougher-than-expected Rutgers on Saturday.

Safety Brandon Snyder set up the score by stripping the ball from receiver Andre Patton with just under nine minute to play to help Iowa (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) win its ninth straight regular-season conference game and its seventh straight league win on the road.

C.J. Beathard threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle late in the first half to give Iowa a 7-0 lead.

Rutgers (2-2, 0-1) tied the game early in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Chris Laviano to Patton.

The Scarlet Knights got to the Hawkeyes 17 on their next possession, but Iowa came up with stops on third- and fourth-down runs to end the drive.

Iowa took the lead late in the first half on Beathard's touchdown pass to Kittle. It capped an eight-play, 99-yard drive that started after the Hawkeyes' defense stopped the Scarlet Knights after they got a first-and-goal at the 3 on a 76-yard catch and run by Janarion Grant .

Hawkeyes cornerback Desmond King stepped on Grant's right leg at the end of the play and Rutgers' dynamic receiver was knocked out of the game.

Beathard had runs of 14 and 12 yards on the drive and hit four passes, the last to a wide-open Kittle, who just got across the goal line with 34 seconds left in the half.

Rutgers tied the game on Laviano's third-down pass to Patton in the left corner of the end zone with 12:45 left in regulation, capping a 13-play, 88-yard drive. Justin Goodwin had runs of 24 and 13 yards and Laviano had a 12-yard run.

THE TAKEAWAY

IOWA: Won the game but probably didn't show enough to get back in the rankings. It dropped out of the poll (No. 13) after losing last weekend.

RUTGERS: The defense played its best game of the season, but the offense came up empty. If the Scarlet Knights continue to play this way they can be competitive against the middle to lower end of the conference.

INJURIES

The injury to Rutgers wide receiver Janarion Grant was never diagnosed. He could not put any weight on his left and had to be carted off. If he misses any significant time, the offense is in trouble.

Iowa linemen James Daniels and Sean Welsh returned after missing last week.

JUST MISSED

Iowa was looking for its first shutout since 2010 against Ball State.

UP NEXT

IOWA: The Hawkeyes returns to Iowa City for a Homecoming contest against Northwestern on Oct. 1.

RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights travel to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State on Oct. 1 in coach Chris Ash's first game against mentor Urban Meyer.

(Copyright 2016 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)