Turnover heaven: 8 take-aways guide ISU to big win in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. - Iowa State puked. Nebraska gagged.

What emerged from the mess Saturday at Memorial Stadium was a watershed victory for the Cyclones, who won their first Big 12 Conference game away from Ames in 15 tries and their first in this state since 1977.

Short-handed and sick, ISU hung on for a memorable 9-7 victory in front of 85,938 stunned fans.

“I'm too happy to puke,” said defensive tackle Nate Frere, in between postgame coughs.

The Cyclones (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) made history without Alexander Robinson, the league's leading rusher, and starting quarterback Austen Arnaud. Several athletes played through flu-like illness, vomiting on the sideline and in the locker room at halftime.

It helped that the Huskers (4-3, 1-2) couldn't hang onto the football, turning it over eight times, four inside ISU's 20-yard line.

“We were lucky to be in the football game,” said Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini. “Eight turnovers? We could have gotten run out of the stadium.”

Of their six second-half possessions, three ended with fumbles and two were interceptions.

Linebacker Jesse Smith corralled the clinching interception from Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee with 1:31 to play. He immediately dropped to the turf and ISU ran out the clock.

“Don't try to be a hero. Go down,” said Smith, who also forced a fumble and had 12 tackles. “Get the win and go back to Ames and celebrate.”

The ISU fans packed in a corner of Memorial Stadium were met by an emotional Coach Paul Rhoads afterward.

Rhoads pumped his fists wildly and had an emotional exchange with his wife, Vicki. The Cyclones are one win away from bowl eligibility in the first-time head coach's rookie season.

“I'm that type of guy,” Rhoads said.

Injuries to Robinson (groin) and Arnaud (hand) kept them on the sidelines. Robinson was not in uniform.

Arnaud came out for warm-ups, but it was clear he would not play much, if at all. Rhoads said both players should be healthy enough to play in next week's game at Texas A&M.

Red-shirt freshman Jerome Tiller got his first start and made one key play - a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jake Williams - against Nebraska's nationally-ranked defense.

“It was a perfect play call,” Tiller said. “I let the ball go, I saw Jake and was like, ‘This is a touchdown.'”

Most importantly, he didn't turn it over.

Tiller was 9 of 19 passing for 102 yards. He rushed 19 times for 65 yards and is going to be one sore puppy.

“It was very physical,” Tiller said. “I'm going to feel it tomorrow.”

Nebraska's ball security issues began with tailback Roy Helu's fumble on the first offensive play. It led to Grant Mahoney's 52-yard field goal that gave ISU a 3-0 lead before fans were comfortable in their seats.

Freshman Dontrayevo Robinson's 3-yard touchdown run put Nebraska on top later in the first quarter.

Tiller's bomb to Williams was the play the Cyclones really needed, but what preceded that might have been the game's defining play.

Punter Mike Brandtner ran 20 yards for a first down on a fake punt that had Nebraska's defense completely fooled. Next play, touchdown Iowa State.

“It was time for momentum to swing,” Rhoads said.

From there, ISU's defense took over. And the turnovers kept coming at an astonishing rate.

Helu had the ball jarred loose at the 1-yard line that safety Michael O'Connell recovered in the end zone.

Then it was Robinson's turn to cough it up inside the 5, as Frere ripped the ball from his arms and James Smith fell on it.

“Any time we have the ball carrier already tackled the next man in is swiping at the football,” said O'Connell, who later added an interception. “We were fortunate enough to get the ball out on a few of those.”

The worst of the bunch was Niles Paul's fumble that wiped away a sure touchdown.

Paul caught a deep pass from Lee, lost his balance running along the sideline, dropped the ball and then fumbled it away while diving to recover it at the goal line. James Smith was chasing Paul down and fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

ISU managed just enough offense - 239 yards - and controlled the clock for almost 34 minutes.

It was a wild game with finally a happy ending for Cyclone fans.

“Today is something I'll remember for the rest of my life,” Brandtner said. “It's a huge win for the university. Everyone who has attended Iowa State is holding their head up high.”

-By Eric Petersen, News Correspondent