Chizik Records First Big 12 Win As ISU Downs KSU

AMES, Iowa? Redshirt freshman quarterback Austen Arnaud came off the bench to ignite the Iowa State offense, throwing for 130 yards on 5-of-7 passing, as the Cyclones defeated Kansas State, 31-20, Saturday afternoon in Jack Trice Stadium. The win, which improves the Cyclones to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, gives ISU head coach Gene Chizik his first conference victory of his career and ends a six-game losing skid.

“This felt so great for our football players and our fans," Chizik said. "The fans that showed up today to root for our football team, that's what Iowa State is about. Today we finally gave them something to cheer about. I am just so happy for our players and our assistant coaches who have not let anybody or anything get them down. I can't be prouder of our young guys and this is just a moment where I feel like a proud father. Realistically, probably less than 10 percent thought we could win today, besides the guys in the locker room. They fought today and played four quarters and got it done.”

Iowa State created a spark right out of the gates when Josh Raven forced Kansas State's James Johnson to fumble on the opening kickoff. James Smith recovered for the Cyclones, giving the home team great field position at the KSU 32-yard line. The Cyclones took advantage of the opportunity, scoring seven plays later on a Bret Meyer 1-yard toss to Derrick Catlett to push ISU out in front early, 7-0.

After the Cyclones forced K-State to punt on its first two possessions, ISU began its third drive at its own 10-yard and mounted an impressive 8-play, 90-yard drive. Chizik inserted the freshman Arnaud at quarterback for the entire series. The rookie was sharp, rushing for 23 yards and throwing for 60 yards in the drive. Freshman running back Alexander Robinson capped off the series with a 3-yard dash to paydirt to boost ISU's lead to 14-0 with 0:41 seconds left in the opening period.

The Wildcats inched closer with 12:41 remaining before the half when Brooks Rossman booted a 28-yard field goal to make it a 14-3 score. However, the Cyclones responded with another strong scoring drive. With Meyer back in at quarterback, the senior hit Todd Blythe for 40 yards on the opening play of the series to set up another Robinson touchdown, this time from two yards out. The 40-yard pass was the longest play from scrimmage for the Cyclones this season.

KSU closed the scoring in the first half when Josh Freeman found Jordy Nelson from 13 yards out to make it a 21-10 Cyclone lead at intermission.

Both teams sputtered offensively in the early part of the second half, but the Cyclones once again took advantage of a key Wildcat turnover. ISU defensive back Chris Singleton grabbed a deflected Freeman pass and dashed 21 yards for a touchdown to pad the Cyclone lead to 28-10 with 6:28 left in the third quarter. It marked the second game in a row where the Cyclones returned a pick for six points.

The K-State offense then began to heat up while the Cyclones stalled. The Wildcats quickly added 10 points to make it a 28-20 Cyclone lead at the end of the third quarter. Rossman drilled a 35-yard field goal and Johnson ran it in from five yards out for the two Wildcat scores. Johnson's touchdown was setup by a 36-yard punt return by Deon Murphy after another 3-and-out by the Cyclone offense. The ISU offense managed just 48 yards and two first downs in the third quarter.

With the Cyclone offense in peril, Chizik once again went with the yearling Arnaud at quarterback. The Ames native directed the Cyclones on an 8-play, 64-yard scoring drive that resulted with a Bret Culbertson 25-yard field goal to push ISU out in front, 31-20 with 8:12 left. Arnaud hooked up with Blythe for 51 yards to set up the Culbertson 3-pointer, eclipsing the longest play of the season for the Cyclones that was established earlier in the first half.

“I was proud of him (Arnaud)," Chizik said. "He didn't turn the ball over. He managed the team well. He made some plays and big-time throws and that's what we're looking for, guys that can manage the team that don't turn the ball over. Not only was he in at critical times, but he delivered at critical times. I think that was great for him and for his teammates. I think it was huge and I'm very proud of him.”

The Wildcat offense continued to move the ball successfully, producing another strong drive that resulted with a first and goal at the 6-yard line of Iowa State. But the Cyclone defense came up big, recording a goal-line stand when Freeman was stuffed on a sneak on 4^th-and-1.

The Cyclones punted from deep in their end zone on its next series to give the Wildcats a ray of light, but the defense was up to the task again. Singleton notched his second interception of the game, allowing the Cyclones to ice out the clock the rest of the way. It marked the first time a Cyclone had two interceptions in a game since LaMarcus Hicks did it against Oklahoma State in 2005. Singleton now has a team-high four picks this season.

Blythe finished the game with just two catches, but they went for 91 yards. Robinson had another solid game at running back, rushing for 61 yards for two touchdowns. The Minneapolis, Minn., native has three touchdowns in the last two games. Meyer completed 12 passes on 18 attempts for 98 yards and an ISU touchdown.

KSU, who falls to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play, was led by Freeman, who threw for 347 yards on 24-of-44 passing. He teamed up with Nelson 13 times for 194 yards. ISU closes out its home schedule next weekend with an 11:30 a.m. kickoff against Colorado.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Austen Arnaud

Austen Arnaud

Todd Blythe

Todd Blythe

Derrick Catlett

Derrick Catlett

Bret Culbertson

Bret Culbertson

Bret Meyer

Bret Meyer

Josh Raven

Josh Raven

Alexander Robinson

Alexander Robinson

Chris Singleton

Chris Singleton

James Smith

James Smith

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics