Iowa State football notes: Fans travel to Kansas game in droves

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Iowa State fans have developed a reputation for traveling well to the Big 12 men's basketball tournament, for bowl games and any close road game.

That was the case Saturday as Iowa State traveled to Kansas and beat the Jayhawks 27-3. If Cyclones fans didn't outnumber Jayhawks fans, it was at least 1:1 ratio.

When Kansas had the ball inside Iowa State's 5-yard line twice late in the fourth quarter, when the game was already decided, 'DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE' chants rung throughout the stadium, imploring the away team to not allow a touchdown.

The Cyclones (5-3, 4-2 Big 12) responded and held strong.

'Let me credit the fans,' Coach Matt Campbell said. 'It's powerful when you go on the road and you have a fan base that's willing to stay the course with us. They've been a huge factor all year. It's really neat in the third and fourth quarter of a football game and the fans were incredible.'

A couple Iowa State defenders gave credit to the fans for the stops.

'It's a good feeling, especially being away, to have our fan support here just to root us on,' defensive end Matt Leo said. 'It's the best feeling knowing that everyone recognizes our defense for what it is and how we're playing this year.'

Even the Kansas (3-6, 1-5) players recognized the Iowa State fans. But they weren't thrilled about it.

Linebacker Joe Dineen, a Lawrence native, was critical of the Kansas fans.

"It was definitely an Iowa State home game." November 3, 2018

"It was definitely an Iowa State home game." #kufball's Joe Dineen expressed his frustration with a largely ISU crowd in Memorial Stadium: pic.twitter.com/wtJcjWtjeC

— Scott Chasen (@ChasenScott)

Brian Peavy impresses

Iowa State cornerback Brian Peavy has been outstanding all season. He's only allowed 10 catches and 14 yards after catch all season, an impressive stat for anyone, especially a cornerback in the pass-happy Big 12.

Saturday, Peavy allowed two completions, but after one, he immediately stripped the ball, allowing teammate Jamahl Johnson to scoop it up and recover.

'I think that was the big play in the game to be honest with you,' Campbell said. 'I thought at that moment, that was a huge play.'

Peavy also had two pass breakups in the game.

Injury report

Quarterback Kyle Kempt is officially healthy enough to take snaps in a football game. Kempt suited up last week and Campbell said he was good to go, but Kempt never entered the game, as expected.

Saturday, Iowa State built a large enough lead to get Kempt in the game in relief of Brock Purdy and knock some rust off.

Kempt only attempted one pass and he completed it for 10 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Datrone Young left the game with a shoulder injury.

'What the extent of it is, where it's at, I don't know, but he's been playing really good football for us, so if it is an extended injury it certainly would be a loss,' Campbell said, 'but somebody else will have to step in and be ready to roll.'

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