MINNEAPOLIS _ Akrum Wadley broke free for a 54-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run Saturday, putting Iowa back in the lead, and the Hawkeyes held on for a 14-7 victory over Minnesota before an announced crowd of 49,145 at TCF Bank Stadium.
The Gophers were clinging to a 7-6 lead with less than six minutes remaining, when Wadley delivered his backbreaking run. He broke through a hole in the left side of the line, and sprinted down the left sideline, as the Gophers had missed tackles from Jack Lynn and Jacob Huff.
Iowa added a two-point conversion on a run by LeShun Daniels.
Minnesota (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) managed one third-quarter touchdown drive but otherwise had a nightmarish day offensively. Their next best chance to score came at the very end.
They started at their own 12-yard line with one minutes, 26 seconds remaining and moved it all the way to the Iowa 13-yard line. Rashad Still, back from a broken clavicle injury, delivered two big catches, and Brian Smith had another one.
But the Gophers drew a false start penalty and turned over the ball on downs as a pass from senior quarterback Mitch Leidner to Smith fell incomplete in the end zone.
For the game, Leidner completed just 13 of 33 passes for 166 yards, with two interceptions. The Gophers rushed for just 102 yards, with Shannon Brooks getting 55, and Rodney Smith getting 44.
Iowa (4-2, 2-1) kept possession of the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy, winning for the fourth time in the past seven meetings in the rivalry.
Iowa led 3-0 at halftime and doubled that lead on the first drive of the second half, when Keith Duncan hit a 28-yard field goal.
Needing a spark, the Gophers got one when Rodney Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 32 yards to the Minnesota 42.
Minnesota's offense, which had been held to just one first down on its first five drives, finally came alive, driving 58 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Shannon Brooks capped it with a 9-yard run around the left edge into the end zone.
But the Gophers went the next six drives without scoring a point, punting four times, fumbling once and throwing an interception.
The Gophers suffered a blow toward the end of the third quarter, when senior right tackle Jonah Pirsig suffered a left ankle injury and was carted off the field.
