The Iowa State football team ended the 2009 season with a record of 6-6 on Saturday after going on the road and losing to Missouri by a score of 34-24.
Important Numbers
– Missouri put up 539 total yards on Iowa State. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Derrick Washington led Missouri’s ground attack with 62 yards on 11 carries. Danario Alexander had another big day, catching 11 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown. Alexander averaged 15.7 yards per reception. The touchdown pass that Alexander caught was for 63 yards in the third quarter.
– Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud threw two interceptions for Iowa State today that were costly. The junior signal caller ended the day 28-for40 for 249 yards and a touchdown.
– Missouri’s rush defense proved once again why they are one of the best run defenses in America. Iowa State ran for only 77 yards as a team against the Tigers. Alexander Robinson led Iowa State’s rushing game once again, as he went for 56 yards on only 14 carries.
– Darius Darks had his best game of the season by far as he caught nine passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. It was good to see Sedrick Johnson get involved in the offense as well as he caught three passes for 32 yards. Seven Cyclones caught passes in the game.
Chris’ Take
From here, we wait. After today’s loss, the Cyclones no longer control their own destiny as far as a bowl game goes. The rules from here are pretty simple. Cheer for Nebraska and root against all teams from the state of Kansas. Eliminating Kansas State from a bowl game would improve Iowa State’s postseason chances tremendously and that could very well happen tonight in Lincoln. I’m sure you’ll all be tuned in as the Big 12 North championship will be on the line.
Here’s the deal though. No matter what pessimists like to think, the chances of Iowa State NOT going to a bowl game are very slim. Yes. It is possible. But it is not likely.
“We trust that somebody is going to want to see this football team play in a bowl game,” Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads told the Cyclone Radio Network after the game. “In the meantime, they are going to get a full week off to be with family. We’ll get a chance to get right back at it on Monday when they get back from Thanksgiving break.”
Rhoads said that his program expects to know if and where they’ll be bowling on Dec. 6.
You can join the whole bowl conversation on Iowa State’s most popular message board by CLICKING HERE.
Despite today’s loss, I am still excited about how this year played out. I picked Iowa State to go 5-7 back in August. To be honest, I thought that I was being incredibly optimistic. Coach Paul Rhoads, his staff, and these players proved me wrong all season long. They almost did it again today.
Just ask yourself this. Would you have taken 6-6 if somebody offered it up to you in July?
I would have. Then, toss in the fact that this team won at Nebraska. That was one of the most unexpected and improbable highs in Iowa State football history.
Iowa State lost today but let’s not forget all of the positives that this team accomplished over the past few months.
It’s hard for me to offer much hard hitting analysis on today’s contest considering I listened to this game on the radio just like all of you. Do I really need to complain about the Big 12’s television package right now? We’ve been there and done that on the CF forums. No need to throw any more gas on the already gigantic fire. This is neither the time nor the place.
