3 keys, prediction for Iowa State football against Ohio

Iowa State’s football team looks to go to 3-0 Saturday when it hosts Ohio (1-1) at 1 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium (ESPN+)

Here are three keys to victory for the Cyclones.

Clean up special teams

It’s impossible to overstate how much Iowa State struggled in the punting game during last Saturday’s 10-7 Cy-Hawk win at Iowa. The Hawkeyes blocked two of the Cyclones’ six punts — and both set up red-zone scoring opportunities. Only one resulted in points, but it’s an alarming issue that must be corrected in advance of Big 12 play.

“I do really like what we’re doing schematically,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “We’ve just got to fundamentally be a little bit better. ... You hate that it happened. You’re glad it didn’t cost us the game and you’ve got to be humble enough to learn from it and grow from it.”

Limit turnovers

The Cyclones were fortunate to force three Iowa turnovers last Saturday because for the second straight meeting, they struggled in that area on the offensive side of the ball.

Quarterback Hunter Dekkers played with poise all day, but threw two interceptions, including one into double coverage in the end zone. Couple those miscues with tailback Jirehl Brock’s fumble into the end zone for a touchback and it’s remarkable ISU won the game.

The good news: Dekkers held himself accountable, as expected, and — like Brock — has otherwise been very good early in the season.

“Inexcusable,” Dekkers said of his interceptions.

Remain productive in the running game

Put Brock’s fumble aside. The redshirt junior has exceeded expectations in his first two games, rushing for 100 or more yards in each, while using speed, power and impressive cutback moves to do so.

The Cyclones’ total of 129 rushing yards against the Hawkeyes may not seem like much, but it is. ISU hadn’t rushed for that many yards (or more) against an Iowa defense since racking up 197 yards on the ground in its 44-41 triple-overtime win in 2011.

Ohio, meanwhile, has given up an average of 174 rushing yards in its first two games, so Brock and company should have plenty of room to roam.

What’s at stake

A win gives the Cyclones their first 3-0 sweep of the non-conference slate since 2012 — and sets the stage for an intriguing Big 12 season opener the following Saturday against reigning league champ Baylor at Jack Trice Stadium. That’s significant.

ISU would be halfway to bowl eligibility and even further along in proving Campbell has built the program into an perennial winner, despite heavy losses to the NFL and graduation. That’s been the one stumbling block that previous Cyclone coaches — however successful in stints — haven’t been able to overcome.

Sustained success is the obvious new benchmark and playing relatively clean football while powering to a less stressful win against Ohio could go a long way toward demonstrating that never-before-achieved goal is well within reach.

Prediction

The Bobcats start out strong behind experienced and talented quarterback Kurtis Rourke, but Jon Heacock’s ISU defense clamps down hard after that. Dekkers continues to be impressive, if workmanlike, and Brock records his third straight 100-yard rushing game. ISU paints a portrait of efficiency and cruises to a win to close its non-conference slate.

Iowa State 41, Ohio 13

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com