Iowa St. Beats Miami, Ohio in Independence

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - Stevie Hicks and quarterback Bret Meyer each had more than 100 yards in a revived running game that carried Iowa State to a 17-13 victory over Miami of Ohio in the Independence Bowl on Tuesday night.<br> <br> Meyer&#39;s weaving 23-yard run set up the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and Iowa State (7-5) held on to win a bowl game for just the second time and spoil Terry Hoeppner&#39;s final game as Miami&#39;s coach.<br> <br> Hoeppner was named Indiana&#39;s coach earlier this month. Miami athletic director Brad Bates told the team just before the game that offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery would succeed Hoeppner.<br> <br> If the timing of that announcement was meant to inspire the RedHawks (8-5), it didn&#39;t do so right away. Miami fell behind 10-0 before rallying to a 13-10 lead in the third quarter.<br> <br> But the Cyclones, who were averaging just 128 yards a game rushing, kept pounding away at the Miami defensive front and finally regained the lead on Ryan Kock&#39;s 1-yard plunge with 13:02 left. Ellis Hobbs sealed the victory by intercepting Josh Betts in the final minute.<br> <br> Hicks carried 27 times for 159 yards and scored on a 4-yard option pitch from Meyer, who had 122 yards on 23 carries. Meyer also was 10-of-28 for 114 yards passing.<br> <br> It was the first time in the 29-year history of the Independence Bowl that two players on the same team rushed for more than 100 yards. The Cyclones finished with 295 yards on the ground, a school record for a bowl game.<br> <br> The victory helped ease the sting of Iowa State&#39;s 14-13 loss to Alabama in this game in 2001. ISU&#39;s Tony Yelk missed a 47-yard field goal attempt in the final minute of that game, a kick that the Cyclones insist to this day was good.<br> <br> Betts kept Miami moving at times, but once Iowa State got its running game revved up, the RedHawks couldn&#39;t keep the Cyclones off the field.<br> <br> Betts&#39; 28-yard touchdown pass to Luke Clemens with 25 seconds left in the first half cut the lead to 10-7 and the RedHawks carried that momentum into the first possession of the second half, driving 80 yards in 11 plays to take the lead on Mike Smith&#39;s 2-yard run.<br> <br> Iowa State helped Miami on both scoring drives with penalties. A personal foul on Tim Dobbins put the RedHawks in position for their first touchdown. On their second drive, they got first downs on two pass interference penalties and a holding penalty when they had been forced to punt.<br> <br> Betts finished 20-of-44 for 240 yards and the one interception.<br> <br> Miami&#39;s Michael Larkin caught two passes to extend his NCAA record to 50 straight games with a reception.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/12/144381