Iowa State look to keep momentum after win in Dublin

AMES — Momentum. Good vibes. A modest winning streak.

Iowa State’s Big 12 Conference football win in Dublin gave it a major edge in a conference race that likely will be as chaotic as it was last season, when five teams retained hopes for a berth in the league title game until the end of the regular season. A loss would fully negate those warm feelings among the fan base — and raised alarm bells that the Cyclones may not be able to contend for a Big 12 title for the second season in a row.

A win simply means they remain on course with another likely tense and close Cy-Hawk game looming in Ames next week.

3 KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Pounce and pound

Five of Iowa State’s first-half drives in last week’s win over Kansas State ended in either punts, fumbles or a missed field goal.

Some of that early offensive futility could be chalked up to rainy and slipper conditions in Dublin, but even under sunny skies the Cyclones have tended to start slow offensively the first few weeks of the season. If that happens Saturday against South Dakota, expect a too-close-for-comfort situation for most ion the game.

The Coyotes — even with 16 new starters — are accustomed to winning as an FCS program, and that No. 5 ranking next to their name exemplifies that. But if ISU is able to execute crisply and precisely offensively from the first snap to the last, fans should be able to breathe easy throughout a game in which the Cyclones are a 15.5-point favorite. The running game is key, so the offensive line must shine to make Saturday as stress free as possible.

2. Dig deep

Ideally, Iowa State will be able to mine its three-deep and beyond in a game against an FCS foe of any stature, and with the Cy-Hawk matchup with Iowa looming the following Saturday, getting experience across all position groups is extremely important.

That’s particularly true at positions such as defensive line and wide receiver — for different reasons. The Cyclones’ defensive front had just one sack and two quarterback hurries against the Wildcats’ elusive Avery Johnson and those numbers must go up against South Dakota’s skilled pocket passer Aidan Bouman.

At wide receiver, redshirt freshman Brett Eskildsen and Dominic Overby both scored their first career touchdowns last week, but highly-touted newcomers Xavier Townsend and Chase Sowell failed to record a catch. Traditionally, transfer receivers take a while to start popping in ISU’s offense — and Townsend and Sowell were both banged up in fall camp — but they need to be reliable targets consistently once Big 12 play begins in earnest.

3. Stay sound

Guess which team led all of the FBS in fewest penalty yards per game last season? Yes, it was Iowa State, yielding just 28 yards per game because of such miscues.

Playing clean football in terms of penalties is one of the hallmarks of the Matt Campbell era, as the Cyclones have ranked among the top 16 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game in five of his first nine seasons. Keeping that trend going against South Dakota is important for two reasons: One, it should help ISU win comfortably, especially if it can do better than break even in the turnover battle. Two, Next week’s foe, Iowa, has been one of the least penalized teams since Kirk Ferentz took over the program late in the 20th century.

Clean football wins games — as the Cyclones proved while racking up a program-record 11 wins last season.

PREDICTION

Campbell said his team has adjusted well to being back on campus after the victorious trip to Ireland in which they earned a Big 12 win over Kansas State. In fact, he said, every single Cyclone made it to class on Monday and reset their sleep schedules back to “normal.”

That’s big if it holds true through Saturday, when the new-look Coyotes come to Jack Trice Stadium. South Dakota possesses a handful of returning stars, such as quarterback Bouman and running back Charles Pierre, Jr., but transfers and newcomers litter most of the starting lineups on both sides of the ball.

ISU should be able to take advantage of this by wearing the Yotes down with its depth. Close game early, but the Cyclones cover the 14.5 point spread.

Iowa State 27, South Dakota 9

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com