Special teams struggles

A roughing the kicker penalty was committed by redshirt sophomore defensive back Drew Surges, who kept a Red Wolves drive alive with 7:19 in the second quarter.

This would allow for the Red Wolves to continue a 17-play, 70-yard, 8:13 touchdown drive. This gave the Red Wolves the lead at 10-9 with 39 seconds to play in the first half.

Redshirt sophomore kicker Kyle Konrardy struggled for the first time this season. He missed a 48-yard attempt and an extra point this week, his first field goal since a 49-yard attempt in the rainy game in Dublin, Ireland.

Konrardy was evaluated in the medical tent after missing the field goal. He remained on the sidelines in full uniform for the remainder of the first half. Konrardy did not return.

Temperature

The Cyclones hit the road for the first time in weeks, traveling south to Arkansas State. The heat quickly became a major storyline, as turf temperatures reached 112°F and pushed players to their limits.

Iowa State’s sideline was also exposed to direct sunlight for much longer than the Red Wolves’, a factor that added to the challenge. It was a setup similarly used in the NFL by the Miami Dolphins, who position their opponents in the sunlight for longer to gain an edge.

Becht’s streak lives on

Redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht has now thrown a touchdown pass in 22 consecutive FBS games. Becht found redshirt freshman wide receiver Dominic Overby for a 27-yard score.

The pass was a turning point in the contest, as it gave the Cyclones the lead back just 28 seconds after the Red Wolves took the lead on the scoreboard.

Becht completed 14 of his 25 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a 150.2 passer rating.

ISU defense, bend don’t break

Iowa State’s defense was a key part of the close contest. The defense held Arkansas State to just six points in the second half.

The Iowa State defense did a great job on first and second down, giving the Red Wolves an average third-down distance of 8.8 yards.

Arkansas State junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor had a great day with 222 passing yards, 58% completion percentage, 108 passer rating and an interception. Raynor was also the rushing leader for the Red Wolves while running for 81 yards.

27 Cyclones recorded a defensive statistic. As a team, they out-tackled the Red Wolves 72-57. Sophomore defensive back Marcus Neal Jr. led the team in tackles with seven, one of which was a tackle for a loss.

Redshirt sophomore defensive back Ta’Shawn James, redshirt senior linebacker Caleb Bacon, Surges and junior linebacker Kooper Ebel all had five tackles.

Late in the contest, Arkansas State was in the red zone with a chance to take the lead. Penalties ultimately cost the Red Wolves that drive. A 2-yard touchdown pass was called back due to an offensive pass interference penalty.

Arkansas State later settled for a field goal and ultimately lost 24-16. Iowa State will enjoy a week of well-deserved rest before returning home to face the undefeated Arizona Wildcats on Sept. 27 at Jack Trice Stadium.

The matchup, which will be the whiteout game, does not have an announced time or television coverage as of publication

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