Final Score: Northwestern 28, Iowa 17

Evanston, IL (Sports Network) - Kain Colter ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, as the Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 28-17, in a Big Ten Conference tilt at Ryan Field.

Colter ran for a game-high 166 yards to go along with 80 yards passing. The Wildcats (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten) also got a big rushing performance from Venric Mark, who added 162 yards on the ground to become Northwestern's first 1,000-yard rusher since Tyrell Sutton in 2006.

Hawkeyes (4-4, 2-2) quarterback James Vandenberg threw for 214 yards on 24- of-38 passing, while Damon Bullock ran for 107 yards on 22 carries. Starting running back Mark Weisman rushed for only 21 yards and left with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter.

Northwestern opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, which Colter finished with a five-yard touchdown run.

Iowa kicker Mike Meyer made a 40-yard field goal at the 4:37 mark of the first quarter to make it a 7-3 game.

Colter scored his second touchdown on a two-yard run at the 11:44 mark of the second quarter, capping a seven-play, 99-yard drive.

Northwestern began to take control in the opening minutes of the second half. The defense forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the third quarter, and the Wildcats blocked the punt to take over possession at the 4- yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Colter notched his third rushing TD of the day.

Following another three-and-out by the Hawkeyes, Colter tossed a 47-yard scoring strike to Christian Jones to make it a 28-3 game with 10:43 to play in the third quarter.

Iowa started to narrow the gap late in the third quarter when Vandenberg scored on a one-yard QB sneak. Vandenberg added another one-yard TD at the 6:37 mark of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 28-17. However, the Hawkeyes were unable to draw any closer the rest of the way.

The Wildcats converted 8-of-11 third downs for the game and scored touchdowns on three of their four trips inside the red zone. They have now won six of the last eight meetings in the head-to-head series with Iowa.