Iowa State's defense comes up clutch, Matt Campbell goes rogue

DUBLIN, Ireland — Iowa State linebacker Caleb Bacon’s eyes darted down the stat sheet, finding several of his teammates’ names with big plays attached to them.

The senior standout missed all but a handful of plays last season because of a lower left leg injury suffered in the opener, but nodded powerfully as he listed teammates who’d helped the Cyclones’ defense largely bottle up a dynamic Kansas State offense in Saturday’s tense but satisfying 24-21 win in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium.

“Guys are just playing fast and confident,” said Bacon, who had one of seven tackles for loss the Cyclones’ defense compiled in the season-opening triumph. “I’m looking at the stat sheet and guys like (safety) Marcus Neal, ‘Jamo’ ( safety Jamison Patton), (linebacker) Carson Willich and some young guys — it’s really nice to see them putting up so many tackles and just getting to the ball so many times.”

The No. 17 Wildcats outgained No. 22 ISU 383 yards to 313, but went just 1-for-4 on fourth-down conversions. That’s because of guys like Neal (a team-best eight tackles, with 1.5 for loss), Patton (six tackles, a key fourth down stop with linebacker Kooper Ebel) and Willich (five tackles), among others.

“I think some of those situational plays defensively were tremendous and then some of the situational plays offensively in the second half were tremendous as well,” Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell said.

ISU finally got its ground game going in those second-half situations, as tailbacks Abu Sama and Carson Hansen began to thrive behind improved line play. The duo combined for just 32 rushing yards in the first half but teamed up for 80 yards after the break — and Hansen added a game-sealing 15-yard catch on fourth and three with just over two minutes left.

“We had to work ourselves through that first half,” said Campbell, who noted that the Wildcats switched from a three-man front to a four-man front this season. “And that’s one nice thing about having continuity in your coaching staff, is that you can make great adjustments.”

The Cyclones’ defense also allowed Kansas State to rush for just 16 of its 110 yards in the ground in the second half.

“(It’s) everybody running to the back and doing their job,” Neal said. “That’s what we’re built on here, just trusting your brother next to you and doing your job.”

BACK IN BLACK?

Campbell burst back into the postgame news conference after answering questions in order to ask one himself.

But why?

Apparently Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor had made a joke at the Wildcats’ pep rally on Friday about ISU not really “knowing” its true colors of cardinal and gold.

“Could you give us a question about why Iowa State (sometimes) wears black?” Campbell asked a reporter.

Then the black-clad head coach answered.

“We don’t really care what color we wear, OK?” Campbell said. “It’s never been about a jersey color for us. It’s never been about any of that. It’s been about team (and) togetherness and playing winning football. So, I appreciate the question. Go Cyclones.”

END ZONE NEWCOMERS

Both of Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht’s touchdown passes on Saturday went to first-time scorers: Wide receivers Brett Eskildsen and Dominic Overby.

“It’s a dream come true moment, right there,” Eskildsen said.

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