Cyclones do some things right and some things VERY wrong, a tale of two halves

ISU came out, we kicked off, and stuffed the returner about the 25 yard line, defense was fired up and stopped Kansas. 3 and out. And so would the first half go....ISU collected the ensuing punt on the ISU 45. Arnuad led an impressive drive into the KU end zone, ISU 7-0.

ISU kicked off, this time through the endzone (nice kick, true freshman!) with the wind. Again, defense stops KU, forcing a punt into the wind. ISU returns the kick to the KU 38. ISU then marches and Chizik decided to go for it on a 4th-and-1 at the KU six-yard line. Alexander Robinson went up the middle for three yards for the first down. Then Arnaud hit Marquis Hamilton in the corner of the end zone to cap off the drive. ISU 14-0

I was beside myself. Jack Trice was going BERSERK.

Facing the wind in the second quarter, the Cyclone defense kept the KU offense in check and padded the score with a pair of Mahoney field goals to make it a 20-0 Cyclone advantage at the break. The ISU defense forced three turnovers in the first half. ISU ended the half with 181 yards of total offense compared to 93 yards by the Jayhawks. ISU’s only mistake in the first half was a fumble by Arnaud at the KU 15-yard line that thwarted a potential score for the Cyclones.

The 3rd Quarter reminded me of why ISU isn't ranked nationally. We aren't that good. We don't have that many play makers. ISU got dominated on both sides of the ball and lost the lead, for good. After a quick three-and-out by the Cyclones, Todd Reesing found a wide open Jake Sharp who sprinted 67 yards to make it a 20-7 game with 12:20 left in the second half. The Cyclones failed to move the ball on their next possession and the Jayhawks again took advantage. Reesing led the Jayhawks on a 7-play, 70-yard drive in just 2:42, as Angus Quigley ran it in from 1-yard out to inch KU closer at 20-14.

KU then took the lead (21-20) with just 4:37 left in the third quarter on a Kerry Meier 23-yard touchdown catch ON FOURTH AND SEVEN from Reesing. The Jayhawks converted two fourth downs in the series. KU then capitalized on a costly ISU turnover, as Arnaud threw a quick out pattern directly to defensive end Max Onyegbule (I might argue it was Arnaud's most "on target pass" of the second half) who darted 21 yards to the ISU 6-yard line. KU scored two plays later on a Jake Sharp two-yard run to make it a 28-20 KU advantage with 9:23 left to play in the game.

The ISU offense finally revived in the 4th Quarter, mounting a 6-play, 60-yard drive that was capped off by a 22-yard touchdown catch by Sumrall, I love this guy. ISU’s ensuing two-point conversion was unsuccessful to make it a 28-26 KU lead with 7:33 remaining in the game. Reesing and company promptly answered, however, scoring 3:54 minutes later on an 8-play, 80-yard drive that was culminated by another Meier touchdown catch, this time from 21 yards out to push KU back up by nine points (35-26) with 3:54 left in the game.

Then the fun started.

ISU scores again, with 1:10 left (35-33). On the ensuing onside kick, it looked like Sederick Johnson (Fr. WR) caught the ball above the KU defender. ISU ball on its own 40 yd line. 1st down, dropped 7 yd pass. 2nd and 10, dropped 12 yd pass. 3rd down, Arnaud sails the ball over the wide outs stretched arms. On 4th and 10, Arnaud over throws a streaking RJ Sumrall down the sideline. The Cyclones looked pathetic on their last chance to go down the field. Routes were sloppy and the blocking was loose at best.

Kansas then assumes the victory formation and ISU's upset dreams were vanished.

www.cyclones.com quotes Chizik saying “My expectations of Iowa State is that we should be able to win games against great football teams....If I expected anything less, I wouldn’t be here, and they shouldn’t be playing for me."

Heartbreaker but the kind of performance that should get the team ready for Baylor, coming home for Nebraska and Texas A&M. All winnable games.