Beathard leads Iowa past Iowa State 31-17

AMES, Iowa -- C.J. Beathard helped ease the sting of an emotional week for Iowa. Beathard threw three touchdown passes, including the tie-breaker to Riley McCarron with 2:14 left, lifting Iowa to a 31-17 victory over Iowa State on Saturday. Jordan Canzeri 's fumble deep in Iowa State territory had thwarted an earlier drive by the Hawkeyes (2-0). But their defense forced the Cyclones (1-1) to punt. Desmond King returned it to midfield and Beathard took the Hawkeyes to the decisive score, finding the 5-foot-9 McCarron in the back of the end zone from 25 yards out. The victory followed an emotional week for the Hawkeyes, who are mourning the deaths, four days apart, of former football standout Tyler Sash and former basketball star Roy Marble. "Today's victory is a rewarding end to a very difficult and challenging week for everybody," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.