No. 22 Iowa needs 2 blocked field goals to defeat Northern Iowa, 17-16

ASSOCIATED PRESS

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Jeremiah Hunter made up for a mental mistake moments earlier by blocking Northern Iowa’s second field goal try in the closing seconds, allowing No. 22 Iowa to escape with a 17-16 victory Saturday.

The Panthers lined up for the potential winning field goal with 7 seconds left, but Broderick Binns blocked Billy Hallgren’s 40-yard attempt on a first down. Believing the game was over, Hunter and several Hawkeyes allowed UNI to recover the ball with a second left.

After officials reviewed the play to make sure there was time on the clock, Hunter got his hand on Hallgren’s second attempt to end the game.

Pat Grace threw for 270 yards for the Panthers, one of the top programs in the Football Championship Subdivision. He led them all the way from their own 8 yard line with 2:14 left to set up Hallgren’s potential game-winners.

Ricky Stanzi had 242 yards passing and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes.

Arkansas 48, Missouri St. 10

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Dennis Johnson returned the season’s opening kickoff for a touchdown, and Arkansas set a school record with 447 yards passing.

Ryan Mallett, who sat out last season after transferring from Michigan, went 17 for 22 for 309 yards and a touchdown for the Razorbacks. Backup Tyler Wilson also played and threw for 138 yards and two TDs.

Coming off a 5-7 season, the Razorbacks (1-0) are expecting a big improvement in Bobby Petrino’s second year as their coach. They were in control throughout the game against Missouri State (0-1). Johnson took the opening kickoff 91 yards to give Arkansas the lead 18 seconds into the game.

That was quite an omen for the Hogs, who fumbled away the first kickoff of last season.

Mallett hadn’t played in a game since November 2007, and Petrino let both him and Wilson throw. Michael Smith, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last year, carried only four times for 43 yards. His 15-yard touchdown run early on made it 14-0.

Jarius Wright was open all over the field for the Razorbacks and finished with six catches for 139 yards. His 58-yard reception from Mallett set up Broderick Green’s 1-yard scoring run that made it 21-3.