Michigan State University
Iowa
Hawkeyes Rally To Stun Spartans
10/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 7, 2000
By GREG SMITH
Associated Press Writer
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Jon Beutjer's 43-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Kasper with less than three minutes remaining rallied Iowa to a 21-16 victory over Michigan State and snapped a school record 13-game losing streak on Saturday.
The Hawkeyes, who last won on Sept. 18, 1999, with a 24-0 victory over Northern Illinois, avenged a 49-3 rout by Michigan State a year ago that started their losing streak.
Iowa (1-5, 1-1 Big Ten) also snapped a skid during which they lost 20 of 21 games. The victory over the Spartans (3-2, 0-2) was the first conference victory for the Hawkeyes since a 26-24 triumph over Northwestern on Oct. 10, 1998.
After Aaron Kampman blocked a 44-yard field-goal attempt by David Schaefer with 6:48 remaining, Beutjer directed the Hawkeyes on an 84-yard drive into a stiff wind for the winning score.
The redshirt freshman, making his second start, hit Kasper with a slant-in throw and the Big Ten's leading receiver outran defenders to the end zone with 2:47 remaining to cap an 11-play drive.
Iowa's defense, which allowed 466 yards, held Michigan State on the last two series.
After Kasper's TD reception, quarterback Ryan Van Dyke, who started after missing the last three games with a bruised right thumb, led the Spartans to the Iowa 47 but was intercepted by LaVar Woods with 1:54 remaining.
The Hawkeyes failed to get a first down, and Jason Baker's punt gave Michigan State the ball at its 42 with 47 seconds left.
Van Dyke, who was 14-of-35 for 180 yards, hit Herb Haygood for 18 yards on a third-and-4 to move the ball to the Iowa 34 with 18 seconds remaining. Van Dyke misfired on his next three passes, including one intended for Haygood in the back of the end zone as time expired.
Buetjer, who threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns last week in a 45-33 loss at Indiana, showed the poise of a veteran for the second straight week as he completed 17 of 25 passes for 146 yards.
Kahlil Hill also sparked the Hawkeyes with a 90-yard touchdown on a kickoff return - his longest since 1998 when he ran one back 88 yards against Central Michigan.
The touchdown came after T.J. Duckett's 31-yard scoring run gave MSU a 16-7 lead with 1:22 left in the third quarter.
Duckett was nearly unstoppable, rambling for 248 yards on 30 carries.
Iowa drove 75 yards on its first possession to grab a 7-0 lead on Ladell Betts' 5-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. The Iowa defense forced the Spartans to punt on their ensuing possession - the first time this season that an opponent failed to score against the Hawkeyes on their opening drive.
Michigan State cut the lead to 7-6 when Van Dyke connected with Ivory McCoy Schaefer on a 2-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter - Schaefer's extra point was blocked - and opened a 9-7 halftime lead on Schaefer's 23-yard field goal eight seconds before halftime.
