Floyd of Rosedale stays in Iowa

Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press - Ap

Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg (16) runs from Minnesota's Marcus Sherels, right, during the first half.

Freshman James Vandenberg threw for 117 yards, and 15th-ranked Iowa kept its hopes for a BCS bowl bid alive by beating Minnesota 12-0 on Saturday.

By LUKE MEREDITH, Associated Press

Last update: November 21, 2009 - 3:34 PM

OWA CITY, Iowa — James Vandenberg threw for 117 yards, fellow freshman Brandon Wegher ran for a touchdown, and No. 15 Iowa kept alive its hopes for a BCS bowl bid by beating Minnesota 12-0.

The victory gave the Hawkeyes (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) double-digit wins for the first time since 2004, along with Floyd of Rosedale — a bronze pig awarded to the winner of the border rivalry — for the eighth time in nine tries.

It was only fitting that they awarded a hog after this one. Iowa and Minnesota combined for more punts (17) than points, and were only 5 of 33 on third-down conversions.

Iowa got field goals of 30 and 45 yards from Daniel Murray and a 1-yard TD run by Wegher. Its defense did the rest, stuffing the Gophers on four straight plays from the 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter to blank Minnesota for the second straight season.

Adam Weber was 14 of 40 for 153 yards for the Gophers (6-6, 3-5), who scored just seven points in road games against Penn State, Ohio State and the Hawkeyes.

The Gophers offense finally caught a break when Vandenberg fumbled a snap that was recovered at Iowa's 29-yard line with 13:40 left. They got as far as the 2 after a pass interference call in the end zone on Iowa's Shaun Prater, but the Hawkeyes stopped a pair of runs and a pass before sacking Weber on fourth down.

Minnesota's final shot came on fourth-and-10 at the Iowa 22 with 6:30 left, but Adrian Clayborn forced Weber out of the pocket and his pass into heavy coverage fell incomplete.

Though the Gophers outgained the Hawkeyes 201-171, they went 4 of 20 on third down and failed to convert on two trips inside Iowa's red zone.

Murray's 45-yard field goal early in the third quarter put the Hawkeyes ahead 12-0. They kept a Minnesota drive alive after being called for roughing Minnesota's Blake Haudan, but Iowa stuffed Jon Hoese on fourth-and-1 at the Iowa 34 late in the third quarter.

Minnesota committed three turnovers in the first half. Iowa wasn't much better, gaining just 129 yards, but Wegher's leaping touchdown run with 52 seconds left made it 9-0.