Northwestern
Iowa
Wildcats Fall to Sixth-Ranked Iowa
11/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov 9, 2002
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Northwestern was unable to slow down one of the nation's top players, Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes won their eighth straight game by defeating the Wildcats 62-10 Saturday.
Banks, who came in as the nation's most efficient passer with a 159.9 rating, threw for 197 yards and completed all 10 of his pass attempts before leaving in the third quarter of his final home game for Iowa (10-1, 7-0).
Fred Russell ran for 100 yards to become the third Hawkeyes running back in the last three years to top 1,000 yards.
Iowa's defense, the best in the nation at stopping the run, held the Wildcats (3-8, 1-6) to 99 yards rushing.
Northwestern will get an extra week to recoup from its defeat, as it has an open date before closing the regular season at home against downstate rival Illinois on Nov. 23.
Right from the start, it did not appear that it was going to be the Wildcats' day. Northwestern opened the game with an onside kick, but the Hawkeyes recovered and five plays later, Jermelle Lewis scored on a 7-yard run for the Hawkeyes. Iowa started the drive on the 'Cats' 25-yard line.
On Northwestern's next possession, Walker opted not to punt on fourth-and-1 from his own 40. Wildcats running back Jason Wright caught a pass in the flat, but middle linebacker Fred Barr made an open-field tackle to stop Wright for no gain, giving Iowa excellent field position once again.
"We wanted to start the game with a surprise -- Iowa just did a good job reacting to the kick and we overran the ball," said NU Coach Randy Walker. "On the fourth-down play, that was a communication mistake on our part. I take full blame for that. We should have punted there."
Banks made the Wildcats pay on the very next play when he threw a 40-yard TD to Maurice Brown. That made the score 14-0 less than five minutes in.
Iowa padded its lead when Banks scored on a 9-yard run early in the second quarter. A 65-yard pass from Banks to Brown made it 28-7. Banks capped the first-half burst with a 19-yard keeper for a score.
The Hawkeyes continued the scoring in the second half when Ed Hinkel returned the Wildcats' first punt of the half 58 yards for a touchdown, making it 42-10.
Banks then capped a five-play, 72-yard scoring drive by tossing a short crossing pass to tight end Dallas Clark, who broke several tackles and ran for the score that pushed the lead to 49-10.
Quarterback Brett Basanez completed 19-of-29 passes for 166 yards and a 8-yard first-quarter touchdown to sophomore Ashton Aikens. David Wasielewski added a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Northwestern returns to action in two weeks, taking on Illinois on Nov. 23 at Ryan Field. Game time is expected to be announced Monday (Nov. 11) afternoon.
