Much of the story of the second Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Friday was written in the opening quarter. The central theme from Iowa State’s perspective was its inability to cash in on field position against the 12th-best scoring the defense in the country. As a result, when the Cyclones fell behind, they could not make up enough ground in what would be a 27-13 loss to Rutgers in front of an announced crowd 38,328.
While they came away with points, the Cyclones had to settle for a pair of Zach Guyer field goals on their first two drives despite reaching at least the Scarlet Knights’ 25-yard line both times. The Rutgers defense, which was allowing only 18.7 points per game coming in, bent but did not break. When Jawan Jamison plunged in from a yard out early in the second quarter, Rutgers had a 7-6 lead and an advantage it would not relinquish.
“We were controlling the football game, but had only six points,” said Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads, who signed a 10-year extension on Dec. 16. “We had our opportunities and failed to execute.”
Limiting the damage to six points was huge for Rutgers, which did not change up its schemes despite Iowa State’s ability to move the ball on those first two drives.
“We didn’t make any adjustments,” said coach Greg Schiano. “We just got acclimated to the speed of the game. Our kids calmed down and played big on third down.”
The Cyclones not only squandered field position – they reached the Rutgers 26 late in the first half and came away with nothing to show for it – but penalties also hurt the cause. After San San Te’s 26-yard field goal put Rutgers up 10-6, Iowa State appeared to take the lead when Jarvis West returned the ensuing kick 93 yards. However, Iowa State was guilty of holding. With Steele Jantz having taken over for Jared Barnett at quarterback, Iowa State (6-7) shook it off and moved the ball. Guyer, though, missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. The Scarlet Knights (9-4) took over and pieced together a 10-play, 66-yard drive that was capped by Jamison’s 12-yard touchdown run for a 17-6 lead. Jamison finished with 134 yards on 27 carries.
The teams spent most of the third quarter trading punts before Te drilled a 29-yard field with 13:21 remaining in the fourth quarter to increase Rutgers’ lead to 20-6. Rhoads’ team still had some fight in it, however. Jeff Woody’s 20-yard TD run with 10 minutes remaining polished off a 76-yard drive and cut the deficit to 20-13. After the Cyclones failed to threaten on their next possession despite starting their next drive at their 42, they had Rutgers pinned deep in their own territory. But Chas Dodd, who started and then alternated at quarterback with Gary Nova, connected with Brandon Coleman on an 86-yard touchdown with 5:47 to play. The 6-foot-6 Coleman was covered by 5-foot-7 corner Jimmy Reaves.
“I thought that was a great play call,” said Schiano, citing offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti. “It was a gutsy call and it was a huge turning point in the game.”
The Cyclones would march into the red zone with a chance to again make it a one-score game, but Darius Reynolds could not hold onto Jantz’s fourth-down pass in the end zone with 4:31 remaining.
Rutgers, playing its second game at Yankee Stadium this season, has the longest active bowl winning streak at five. They are 5-2 all-time in bowls. The Cyclones fell to 3-8 and were denied their 500th all-time win.