The Iowa State Cyclones got back in the winning column with a 31-20 victory over Kansas State. Josh Raven forced kick returner James Johnson to fumble on the opening kickoff and James Smith picked up the loose football. ISU’s offense capitalized seven plays later when Bret Meyer hooked up with Derrick Catlett on a 1 yard touchdown pass. The Cyclones never looked back.
Iowa State looked good in all three phases of the game. The special teams play which had been non-existent coming into the game, came through with big plays including the fumble on the opening kickoff return, Bret Culbertson’s clutch field goal and good punting from Michael Brandtner.
The Cyclone offense which had struggled to make big plays prior to last weeks game, is starting to find playmakers. On Saturday the big plays came in the passing game. Austen Arnaud found running back Alexander Robinson (35 yards) on a screen play and receiver Marquis Hamilton (25 yards) in his opening series at quarterback. Bret Meyer hit Todd Blythe on a beautiful out-and-up pattern for 40 yards in the second quarter. Arnaud helped put the game on ice in the fourth quarter with a 51 yard toss to Blythe, setting up Shaggy for a field goal. Robinson had 136 total yards in the game with 61 yards on the ground and 75 yards in receptions. The redshirt freshman running back also had two short touchdown runs.
The defense scored a touchdown for the second straight week. Alvin Bowen jumped a Josh Freeman pass late in third quarter, deflecting the ball to cornerback Chris Singleton who took the ball 21 yards for the score. Ahtyba (Tuba) Rubin came up big with 4 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, stuffing Josh Freeman on a quarterback sneak on fourth and goal from the one yard line. Singleton sealed the game with another interception late in the game. Bowen led the Cyclones with 11 tackles and DE Kurtis Taylor also had a nice game sacking Freeman twice.
Here are your choices for the Cyclone Player of the Week:
- QB Austen Arnaud – (5-7, 130 yards / 6 rushes, 17 yards)
- LB Alvin Bowen – (11 tackles, tipped pass and block on INT that was returned for TD)
- QB Bret Meyer – (12-19, 98 yards, 1 TD (1), 1 INT / 7 rushes, 41 yards)
- RB Alexander Robinson – (25 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD (3,2) / 5 catches, 75 yards)
- CB Chris Singleton – 2 interceptions, 37 yards, 1 TD (21), 6 tackles
- DE Kurtis Taylor – 4 tackle, 2 sack, 20 yard loss
Stop back every week to isuisu.com to vote for the Cyclone Player of the Week.
