The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 27

Stars win 5-4, so do Buccaneers in season openers Page 11C is Dcs JUoincs Sunbay Register DM SUNDAY October 8, 2006 BRYCE MILLER, Executive Sports Editor 515-284-8288e-mail: brmillerdmreg.com I mwA PURDUE BOILERMAKERS 17 HAWKEYES 47 SPORTS 13 Add run, cook to a boil Hawkeyes' rushing attack is recipe for lopsided victory over Purdue on 20 rushes. The5-foot-9, 185-pound junior from Boynton Beach, also scored two touchdowns, helping the Hawkeyes improve to 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference, 5-1 overall. "It seemed like whatever we called worked," said Sims, who became a 1 1 carries, was due in part to Tate's ability break down the Boilermakers' defense. Tate, who has been bothered by an abdominal strain, was coming off his first full week of practice in nearly two months. The result was 17-for-23 passing for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

"Drew had them not wanting to blitz us anymore," Sims said. "He was killing them on it." Iowa's 539 yards were the most for coach Kirk Ferentz's team since dispatching Minnesota 52-28 last See HAWKEYES, Page 6C By ANDREW LOGUE REGISTER STAFF WRITER Iowa City, la. The speculation surrounding quarterback Drew Tate's health may have been silenced Saturday afternoon. Now the debate over who should be Iowa's starting tailback is gaining momentum. Damian Sims filled in for an ailing Albert Young and carried the No.

19 Hawkeyes to a 47-17 victory over Purdue. Sims ran for 101 yards before halftime -T- making him the first Iowa back to surpass 100 yards in a game this season and finished with a career-high 155 Sims 20 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns starter when Young was sidelined with a leg strain. "Even when we got in a couple bad situations, we HARRY BAUMERTTHE REGISTER Iowa's Damian Sims, scoring during the third quarter, had 155 yards rushing, including 101 in the first half. He is the first Iowa back to top the 100-yard mark this season. ended up getting a first down.

The effectiveness of Sims and Shonn Greene, who rushed for 88 yards on NEBRASKA C0RNHUSKERS28 IOWA STATE CYCLONES 14 rnrvnnrnrn ffl UXJUXJUUXJIS Padres stay afloat, stop Cardinals with Young San Diego keeps St. Louis from ending opening series in three games. Nebraska rushing game sterling, ISU offense grounded mi By GARY LAKE REGISTER STAFF WRITER St. Louis, Mo. The drama and mystery that have marked the St.

Louis Cardinals' season continued Saturday afternoon in the first playoff game ever at the new Busch Stadium. After winning the first two games of a best-of-five series on the road, the National League Central champions swung and missed on their first chance to end San Diego's season at home and move on to the league championship series. Padres starter Chris Young baffled hitters for 6 2h innings and the Cardinals failed to produce timely hitting in a 3-1 loss that forced tonight's Game 4. St. Louis' playoff existence came to fruition despite injuries to key players, unforeseen struggles from the starting rotation and nearly blowing what was a comfortable lead See NLDS, Page 3C ir i By RANDY PETERSON REGISTER STAFF WRITER Ames, la.

Bret Meyer stood before microphones and cameras, front and center after Iowa State's 28-14 loss to 22nd-ranked Nebraska on Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium. "On offense," the Cyclones' quarterback said, "we didn't do our part. The defense they were great. On offense we had touchdowns called back. "We just didn't do our part." A crowd of 55,338, topped only by the 55,518 that witnessed the Iowa State-Northern Iowa game on Sept.

30, saw the Cyclones' records fall to 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference and 3-3 overall heading into Saturday's game at 14th-ranked Oklahoma. They also saw the Cyclones lose what they originally thought were two third-quarter touchdowns. The first happened when receiver Todd Blythe was called for pass interference moments before latching onto a 29-yard pass in the end zone from Meyer. "They said I pushed off," Blythe said. "There's going to be contact out there.

I don't think I pushed off. (Nebraska defender Andre Jones) said, 'Nice play' He told me he didn't see See CYCLONES, Page 4C i 'J I life it i i or 1 NLDS schedule SATURDAY'S GAMES San Diego 3, St. Louis 1 (Cards lead 2-1) New York 9, Los Angeles 5 (Mets win 3-0) TODAY'S GAMES Noon San Diego (W. Williams 12-5, 3.65) at St. Louis (Carpenter 15-8, 3.09) (ESPN) "I Complete coverage Complete coverage of Saturday night's Iowa State-oeiMoinesJ Nebraska game in Ames, including game stories, columns, blogs and photo galleries available at: DesMoinesRegister.comSports ANDREA MELENDEZREGISTER PHOTO Nebraska's Brandon Jackson runs over Iowa State defenders David Rahe (12) and Chris Singleton (11) durinsr the Cornhuskers' 28-14 win Saturday.

Jackson rushed for 1 16 yards and Cody Glenn added 149. Xw Cyclones' Blythe doesn't get benefit of doubt TIGERS, METS IN Craig Monroe and Detroit eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs with an 8-3 win. The Tigers will face the A's in the AL Championship Series. The Mets also eliminated the Dodgers. Page 3C heat of the moment.

If you're still blaming the officials this morning for Iowa State's 14-point defeat, friend, you're delusional. Paranoid. Was it a consistent, well-called game from start-to-finish? Heck, no. But it wasn't Oregon-Oklahoma, Part II, See KEELER, Page 5C not, they give the wideout the benefit of the doubt. But this time, there was no doubt.

None. Please. For pity's sake, spare us your sob stories about Iowa State being "jobbed" by the officials Saturday night. Yes, it appeared that Blythe, the Cyclones' record-setting receiver, had a foot in-bounds in the end zone. And he would have scored, too if he didn't commit third-degree assault on Nebraska cornerback Andre Jones first.

"There's going to be contact," said Blythe, who wound up with six grabs for 96 yards in a losing effort. "I don't think I pushed off." They never do. Such is the Ames, la. Ah, baloney. Todd Blythe may not go out of his way to cross the line, but the guy straddles it enough to know the difference.

That's the thing about offensive pass interference: It's subjective. Like holding. The refs could call it every time if they wanted to. Usually, they don't. More often than SeanKEELER a I.

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