Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Caden Matson (43) scores on a blocked punt from Baylor Bears punter Palmer Williams (not shown) during the second quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State got down early, but responded on all fronts in a 43-21 win at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday. Let’s talk about it.
Iowa State got punched early, but responded with unsung heroes and ‘elite special teams’
Iowa State’s first drive of the game ended with Abu Sama getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage on 4th and 2.
By the start of the second quarter, four defensive starters were hurt – Darien Porter didn’t even play in the game. Kyle Konrardy missed an extra point, too.
Iowa State got punched in the mouth – and the hits weren’t done coming – but, boy did they respond.
Trailing 14-12, Jeremiah Cooper broke up a Baylor pass on third down. The Bears had moved the sticks once, but were quickly handing the ball back to Iowa State, who had the crowd behind them.
That’s when fourth-year defensive end Myles Mendeszoon got his hands on the Baylor punt. Caden Matson – a redshirt sophomore walk-on from Humboldt – picked up the ball before running it in for the score, giving the Cyclones their first lead of the game.
“The who is what’s even more rewarding,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “It was awesome… Caden Matson has just kind of been a warrior for this program – a kid that just keeps showing up, that obviously gets the touchdown. We felt like there was an opportunity to take a shot in the game.”
The special teams unit nearly came out with a fumble recovery later in the game, too. There’s a reason Baylor coach Dave Aranda called Iowa State’s special teams play ‘elite,’ on Tuesday.
They’ve been rock solid, so far.
“Special teams is really definitive of the character of your team in a lot of ways,” Campbell said. “I just feel like for us – our kids, no matter what your role… are ready to step up when their number gets called. This team gets that from top to bottom.”
Campbell has always stressed the importance of making sure he had the right players filling out the entirety of his roster. He stresses that every walk-on is ‘preferred,’ and there are examples everywhere that they are finding ways onto the field.
Along with Matson, redshirt freshman linebacker Rylan Barnes played the entirety of the second half in relief of Cael Brezina. Not to mention the still-redshirt-for-now in Konrardy at kicker.
Wide receiver Carson Brown caught two passes last week at Houston, too. Iowa State is finding success no matter who’s on the field.
It’s the players-formations-plays montra that this staff has preached since the early days.
A dinged-up defense
Iowa State saw seven of its 11 usual starters on the defensive ball either taken out of the game or down on the field for an extended period of time due to injury.
As mentioned, defensive back Darien Porter missed the game entirely, and Cael Brezina didn’t return for the second half.
We’ll find out more on Tuesday of the pair, but Campbell offered that Porter was a game-time decision for Saturday.
Myles Purchase was ordered to the concussion tent, but was approved to come back into action.
J.R. Singleton, Ikenna Ezeogu, Domonique Orange and Malik Verdon each exited the game with injuries during the first half, but all of them re-entered the game later on.
Despite this, the defense stepped up, with players stepping up to fill in throughout the night.
After Baylor started 3-3 on third down conversions, the Bears went 1-10 after, allowing the Cyclones to extend their lead and pull away.
“Even in some of those plays, I thought ‘gosh, we were a hair off,'” Campbell said. “A lot of those plays came in the passing game. I really just thought that our ability to hang in there and make the corrections we needed to make (paid off). It wasn’t a change of scheme, and we didn’t really do much different in terms of what we did different, it was more so how we were doing it.”
Jaylon Jackson
The talented running back transfer from Eastern Michigan forced this staff to put him on the field. He was simply too good during the off-season and fall camp periods to ignore it, giving the Cyclones a third running back in their rotation.
On Saturday, the senior rushed for 100 yards for the first time in his collegiate career.
“He’s been pretty consistent, honestly for the whole season,” Campbell said. “I thought he was electric last week, and man, has he just continued to grow. It’s been really pleasant to see him, and obviously he had a couple of pretty great runs in the game, but I think he’s shown all season he can do that.”
Jackson helped turn the tide of the vibes at the Jack. His 51-yard rush in the second quarter eventually led to Ben Brahmer’s touchdown to make it a 14-12 game.
It was the loudest the crowd had gotten to that point, and played a big role into flipping the energy into Mendeszoon’s blocked punt.
“It was just amazing to watch,” Jackson said. “It was one of the best games I’ve been a part of… it just boosts my confidence. I’ve been looking for a game like this since I’ve got here. Tonight was that night. Shoutout to the O-line and my teammates.”
Had it not been ‘the white-out game,’ this would be remembered as Jackson’s breakout night and that could be a big thing going forward in Ames.
The white-out
Iowa State fans delivered on the white-out front. About 90 percent of the crowd at Jack Trice Stadium showed up in white and Iowa State’s alternate uniforms popped under the lights.
I know some of y’all are skeptical of the totality of the fan base’s ability to pull off color-outs – there have been some less-than-perfect attempts in the past. But the Cyclone faithful did their job Saturday night.
This Iowa State crowd >>>> pic.twitter.com/douAZk5mYt
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) October 5, 2024
The uniforms popped, the crowd impressed and the Cyclones get out with a 5-0 start.
“That was crazy,” Jackson said. “Definitely one of the loudest games I’ve ever been in.”
