Boy howdy did that game stink.
Your Iowa State Cyclones held on to beat the Arkansas State Red Wolves by a final score of 28-16, escaping a terrible situation in Jonesboro with a win.
Pretty is not an adjective you would use to describe this game, and the Cyclones had to simply survive a bizarre game script, scorching hot temperatures, and poor tackling on a good running QB to get to 4-0 on the season.
As it often has, it all went downhill after a missed extra point. Iowa State had gone up early thanks
to moving the ball on the ground, and Kyle Konrardy missed an extra point to keep the score 9-0. Arkansas State would engineer an 8 play, 55 yard drive to get on the board with 3, and Konrardy would end the next drive with a missed field goal and an apparent injury.
Before halftime, Arkansas State mashed Iowa State to the tune of a 17-play, 70 yard drive on the legs of the quarterback Jaylen Raynor, infuriating the defense and Cyclone fans watching from home. The main issue was his ability to scramble, as no explosives were given up, but he was impossible to bring down and posed a threat in the option game.
Improbably, Iowa State would respond before half with a 75-yard, 28 second touchdown drive with Rocco Becht finding Overby for a 25 yard score before halftime.
What ever good vibes the end of the half brought, evaporated like piss on an engine block in the second half. Arkansas State put together another 14 play drive to get a field goal, chewing clock and wearing down the defense. Arkansas State would have likely scored again without a super-human effort from Tre Bell to intercept a deep pass.
Instead of taking control, an ISU receiver dropped an easy first down pass and Tyler Perkins bobbled a punt snap, nearly resulting in a blocked punt touchdown that some how resulted in a 40-yard punt.
The Cyclones were driving to put the game away, and yet another drop, this time from Ben Brahmer, resulted in an interception, keeping Arkansas State in the game.
To continue the trend of deflating drives, an 18-play field goal drive ensued, resulting in a 17-16 ball game.
Finally, the Cyclone offense responded, with Rocco Becht hitting Xavier Townsend for a 44-yard gain. Abu Sama would eventually run over a defender to get into the end zone, putting them up 8 and for good.
Taylor Mouser, who called by and large a horrible game, did ice it with a ballsy 3rd down play call pass from Becht to Carson Brown.
Iowa State desperately needs a break, and thankfully, they get one next weekend.
