Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) runs the ball for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
No. 11 Iowa State traveled to Morgantown Saturday, coming away with a 28-16 win and its first 6-0 start since the 1938 season.
Let’s get into some takeaways.
Defensive injuries are still pulling punches
It may feel like this is a conversation every week, but that’s the reality we’re in, right now. Iowa State has a group of banged up linebackers and some nagging injuries all around its defensive unit, but they’ve still found a way.
Linebacker Jacob Ellis went down with a lower body injury during the first quarter, and didn’t return to the game, but the Cyclones never wavered.
With a trio of guys from small, in-state high schools, the Cyclones found a way to hold West Virginia to 10 points, and get the dub…
Those guys are stepping up
No matter what position Iowa State has found itself in this year, there have been unsuspecting names rising to the occasion.
It goes beyond guys like Kooper Ebel, who has remained steadfast at the linebacker spot while others battle injuries or the running back room that is performing no matter who’s on the field.
On Saturday, it was true freshman Beau Goodwin – a late add to the 2024 recruiting class out of Kingsley-Pearson High School. He had a pair of big TFL’s on the same drive to help slow down the West Virginia offense.
Walk-on Rylan Barnes was second on the team with nine tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in his second game on the field.
Jamison Patton earned his first interception as a Cyclone, stopping a West Virginia drive in a one-possession game.
“I was just in the right place at the right time, just doing my job and the ball came to me,” Patton said on the Varsity Network broadcast after the game.
And don’t forget about Jontez Williams, who has an interception in three games in a row – helping his team win another turnover battle this year.
— By the way, are we not talking about new linebackers coach Colby Kratch enough? He’s overcome more adversity than someone could imagine during his first year on the job.
That same type of mentality can be applied to the running back room.
The Carson Hansen game
Tonight it was Carson Hansen.
He got overshadowed a bit by Jaylon Jackson a week ago, but his three trips to the end zone made sure that he wouldn’t be Saturday. Hansen finished with 96 yards on 20 carries along with the three scores.
Iowa State has played three backs all season at the position, and each has had their day on different weeks.
This staff may not deviate from the three-headed monster approach in future weeks, but it’s a positive sign that Hansen looked as good as he did, regardless. He was an every down back on Saturday.
That reflected on the stat sheet, too. Jackson had 19 yards on 12 carries while Abu Sama got six yards on two attempts. They weren’t going away from No. 26.
Progress in the search for a third wideout
In other things that have been brought up almost weekly this year, Iowa State still hasn’t found its third real standout guy at wide receiver, but it may be closer after tonight.
North Dakota State transfer Eli Green found a 12-yard reception to convert on 3rd and long, and then got the ball again on the ensuing play taking the ball 34 yards downfield.
The pair of plays helped Iowa State’s drive that put the Cyclones up 21-10 in the fourth quarter, ultimately leading to the win.
That’s not to say all its problems are solved, but it is progress
Walk-on Carson Brown had a reception once again, and Isaiah Alston has had plays on the field – just not catches to come with.
The search is still far from over, but it made more progress tonight than it has in the past three games.
…
Iowa State could have preseason top 10 teams in men’s basketball, women’s basketball and wrestling in the next few weeks.
Things are good right now, and the only thing standing between Iowa State and it’s next bye week is a 3-3 UCF team.
Oh, and an extra stat: Iowa State repeated three uniform combinations in road games for the first time in the Matt Campbell era – the last time the Cyclones repeated three combinations in home/road games, Brock Purdy led the team to a Fiesta Bowl in the all-black’s.
Enjoy this one, I’ll have more in Musings bright and early on Monday.
“I thought our kids really had great poise early,” head coach Matt Campbell said. “It’s a great football environment, I think we knew that… Our mantra was, ‘the louder they get the harder we play.'”
