IOWA CITY, Iowa - Thirdstring running back Jevon Pugh scored on a 1-yard run in double overtime, helping Iowa to a 34-27 victory against Michigan State on Saturday.
Albert Young had 179 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Iowa (4-5, 2-4), which had rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit. Michigan State tied the game at 20 on a 29-yard field goal by Brett Swenson with four seconds left in regulation.
Young ran 6 yards to put Iowa at the 1 in the second overtime before Pugh, a freshman, gave the Hawkeyes a 34-27 lead.
The Spartans (5-4, 1-4) reached the Iowa 9 on their second-overtime possession, but quarterback Brian Hoyer was sacked on third down for a 7-yard loss. On fourth down, Hoyer found Devin Thomas in the flat, but he was stopped well short of the first down.
Michigan State's Javon Ringer rumbled for 18 yards in the first overtime to put the Spartans at the 3, and Jehuu Caulcrick's TD run gave them a 27-20 lead.
Iowa answered with a 23-yard touchdown reception by Paul Chaney Jr. to force double OT.
Caulcrick scored three touchdowns and Hoyer was 25 of 42 for 308 yards to lead Michigan State, which lost for the fourth time in five games. The Spartans were attempting to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2003.
In other games involving Big Ten teams, Jaycen Taylor ran for a career-high of 157 yards and two touchdowns to lead Purdue past Northwestern 35-17 in West Lafayette, Ind. Taylor gained 114 yards on 15 carries in the second half. ... Backup Lance Smith ran for two touchdowns after P.J. Hill left with an injury, helping Wisconsin to a 33-3 victory in Madison, Wis., over Indiana and extending the Badgers' home winning streak to 13 games. ... Carlos Brown had 13 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Ryan Mallett was11 of 20 for 233 yards with a TD and fumble, helping Michigan overcome a slow start to beat Minnesota 34-10 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Brandon Minor ran for 157 yards and a score on 21 attempts. ... Illinois secured bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2001 season, coming from behind to beat Ball State 28-17 in Champaign, Ill., behind 189 yards and two touchdowns from Rashard Mendenhall.
Sports, Pages 43 on 10/28/2007