(CSTV U-WIRE) IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa quarterback Drew Tate tried to make up for a mistake, but ended up taking himself out of the game.

After trying to throw a sideline lob pass to receiver Ed Hinkel, who cut across the field on a post pattern -ÿan obvious communication error -ÿIowa State cornerback Steve Paris had an easy interception.

Paris ran up the sideline, and Tate met him at the Cyclone 44-yard line, putting his head down and successfully tackling him. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, Tate lay on the turf before being helped off the field by trainers, who kept him on the sideline with a concussion.

“I thought he was coming back in, because that’s how much of a competitor he is,” backup quarterback Jason Manson said. “I didn’t think he was coming out. I don’t think he wanted to come out.”

Tate didn’t return, although he’s expected to be ready for Saturday’s game against Northern Iowa, and Manson entered with four minutes left in the half with a 9-0 deficit.

Manson was shaky in the second quarter, throwing five straight incompletions, including an interception returned 28 yards for a touchdown by Iowa State defensive back LaMarcus Hicks on his first drive.

The Cyclone secondary played tight coverage on Iowa’s receivers, tallying seven pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing only three catches for more than 15 yards.

“They did a good job, but I think we had guys wide open,” Manson said. “I just couldn’t get them the ball sometimes. I don’t think I played my best game.”

The junior signal-caller from Bloomfield, Conn., completed 10-of-31 passes for 117 yards. He also gained 57 yards on the ground -ÿ five of which resulted in first downs.

But the offense simply never clicked. Sometimes when Manson threw a good ball, receivers couldn’t hold on to the pass – the Hawkeyes dropped at least three passes in the second half. Other times when receivers were open, Manson sailed the ball over their heads.

Most noticeably, Iowa State’s veteran front four and blitz combinations often forced Manson to scramble before making a pass – the Cyclones totaled six quarterback hurries and three sacks.

As a result, Manson never found a tempo.

“Like the rest of our football team, he never got into a rhythm or executed sharply,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

“I felt good about Jason Manson basically all spring and still do. We’ll win football games if Jason has to be in there, but we have to help him out a little bit, too.”

Manson and Tate battled each other for the starting position before the 2004 season before a broken foot sidelined Manson for the first month of the year. Last weekend’s game was his first chance at meaningful snaps.

“That’s the opportunity you’re looking for,” Manson said. “It came, and I just didn’t make the best of it.”

Tate played the first six series -ÿ three resulted in turnovers and three in punts. The Baytown, Texas, native finished 5-of-11 for 57 yards with an interception. Ferentz said Tate took a shot in the head trying to make the tackle on Paris but added he did the right thing trying to make the play.

“If a quarterback throws a pick, he has to make an effort to make the tackle,” Ferentz said. “But, obviously, we’d rather not have Drew doing that. We’d rather have him not throw interceptions, so he doesn’t have to do that.”

-Jason Brummond