TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Backup quarterback Blake Bell scored three touchdowns Friday and Oklahoma held off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Iowa 31-14 in the Insight Bowl.
Two of Bell's touchdowns came in the first half and staked Oklahoma to a 14-0 lead at the break. His third one came with 45 seconds left in the game after the outcome had been decided in a wild fourth quarter that included a technical malfunction that came close to causing injuries on the field.
A 35-yard field goal by Oklahoma's Michael Hunnicutt with 2:28 remaining created a 10-point lead and brought a satisfying end to the Sooners' otherwise disappointing and injury-ridden season.
The Sooners began the year ranked No. 1 and finished the campaign at 10-3. Iowa (7-6) had a three-game bowl winning streak come to an end.
Related
Moments after Hunnicutt's field goal, an overhead television camera broke free from its suspension cables and fell onto the field -- narrowly missing a group of Iowa players.
The incident occurred with 2:22 left the play, and play was briefly suspended while the camera and the cables attached to it could be removed.
Bell scored in both the first and second periods on a pair of 4-yard runs and the Oklahoma advantage reached 21 points when Landry Jones hit Trent Ratterree with a 3-yard pass midway through the third quarter.
James Vandenberg gave Iowa hopes for a comeback by throwing touchdown passes in the final period of 5 yards to C.J. Fiedorowicz and 9 yards to Jordan Canzeri. Vandenberg was 23-of-44 for 216 yards.
The second Iowa touchdown came with 6:56 to play and the Hawkeyes chose to kick deep after the score. Oklahoma then drove 44 yards to set up Hunnicutt's field goal. Bell's third touchdown came on a 21-yard run, adding points in a situation where Oklahoma could have run out the clock.
