AP PHOTO - Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) reacts after scoring a touchdown against Rutgers during the second half of a college football game Friday night in Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Mark Gronowski ran for three touchdowns and passed for 186 yards to lead Iowa to a 38-28 win over Rutgers in the Big Ten season-opener for both teams on Friday.

Gronowski scored two fourth quarter TDs for Iowa (3-1), erasing a 28-24 Rutgers lead.

Athan Kaliakmanis passed for 330 yards and ran for two TDs for the Scarlet Knights (3-1).

The Takeaway

Iowa: The offense has finally come around. The Hawkeyes pounded out 346 total yards with a balanced attack (186 passing, 160 rushing). They entered the game ranked 103d in total offense in the FBS.

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights are 0-5 against Iowa — one of six Big Ten schools they have never defeated.

Key Play

Jaxon Rexroth intercepted a Kaliakmanis pass with 5:39 to play that set up Iowa’s second TD of the fourth quarter. Defensive end Max Llewellyn hurried Kaliakmanis into throwing his first interception of the season.

Strong Return

After missing last week’s game against Norfolk State with an injury, Rutgers’ wide receiver Ian Strong returned to catch a career-high 151 yards. Together with KJ Duff and DT Sheffield, Rutgers has one of the country’s most formidable long-ball threats.

Big Play

Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen returned the opening kickoff for 100 yards and a TD. It was the first time a Hawkeye took the opening kickoff for a touchdown since C.J. Jones ran one back against USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl.

Up Next

Iowa hosts Indiana on Sept. 27.

Rutgers is at Minnesota on Sept. 27

Iowa 38, Rutgers 28

Iowa 14 7 0 17 — 38

Rutgers 14 7 0 7 — 28

First Quarter

IOWA–Wetjen 100 kickoff return (Stevens kick), 14:48.

RUTG–Raymond 5 run (Patel kick), 12:39.

RUTG–A.Kaliakmanis 4 run (Patel kick), 6:03.

IOWA–Moulton 6 run (Stevens kick), 2:24.

Second Quarter

RUTG–A.Kaliakmanis 1 run (Patel kick), 12:12.

IOWA–Gronowski 2 run (Stevens kick), 8:00.

Fourth Quarter

IOWA–FG Stevens 26, 14:02.

RUTG–Raymond 1 run (Patel kick), 9:44.

IOWA–Gronowski 2 run (Stevens kick), 5:39.

IOWA–Gronowski 1 run (Stevens kick), 2:14.

TEAM STATISTICS

IOWA RUTG

First downs 23 20

Total Net Yards 346 400

Rushes-yards 38-160 30-70

Passing 186 330

Comp-Att-Int 12-18-0 24-40-1

Punts 3-46.0 3-48.0

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 2-30 6-50

Time of Possession 29:42 30:18

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Iowa, Moulton 14-68, Gronowski 13-55, Patterson 6-37, McNeil 1-10, Washington 1-0, Wetjen 1-(minus 4), (Team) 2-(minus 6). Rutgers, Raymond 18-62, Benjamin 2-4, A.Kaliakmanis 10-4.

PASSING–Iowa, Gronowski 12-18-0-186. Rutgers, A.Kaliakmanis 24-40-1-330.

RECEIVING–Iowa, Moulton 3-21, Ortwerth 2-30, Wetjen 2-20, Howard 1-42, Phillips 1-25, Vonnahme 1-21, Washington 1-16, Gill 1-11. Rutgers, Strong 8-151, Duff 7-92, Sheffield 3-51, Fletcher 3-24, Weber 2-11, Benjamin 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–Iowa, Stevens 40. Rutgers, Patel 37, Patel 29.