The Iowa State Cyclones are receiving votes in both the Associated Press and coaches poll after improving to 2-0 after posting a 9-6 victory in a mistake filled game against Iowa. It was the Cyclones first win in Kinnick Stadium in 10 years and the lowest scoring contest between the two teams in 24 years.
The Cyclones scored on their opening possession of the game on a five yard pass from Steele Jantz to Aaron Horne but that would turn out to be the game’s only touchdown. Jantz completed 24 of 36 passes for 241 yards but he was intercepted twice and the Cyclones also lost two fumbles and needed a late interception to hold off an Iowa rally.
Jake Knott intercepted a James Vandenberg pass with a minute 11 remaining to preserve I.S.U’s’s second straight win in the series. Iowa State hosts Western Illinois Saturday evening.
The Hawkeyes are 1-1 and through two games and the Iowa offense has been dreadful. The Hawks have scored only one touchdown in eight quarters of action.
The protection was better for senior quarterback James Vandenberg but he connected on only 20 of 42 passes, including two interceptions. and it included numerous dropped passes from a receiving corps that is a glaring weakness. The running game which bailed out the Hawks in their opener against Northern Illinois managed only 68 yards.
Sophomore running back Damon Bullock carried the ball 22 times but could only muster 53 yards. Next up for the Hawks a game at home against Northern Iowa.