Even in losses, Iowa State football showing signs of life

AMES - Thursday night ended just like all but one Saturday before it this season.

Iowa State walked into its locker room disappointed in defeat.

Cyclones Coach Matt Campbell has said time and again he's not one for moral victories. When you're in Division I football and have a history of winning as a player and coach, you know the business is ultimately based on real wins and losses.

The goal, obviously, is to win, but in Campbell's first season of trying to establish a culture in Ames, he's grading on a curve. Even in a 34-24 loss to No. 14 Oklahoma, the progress wasn't lost on the 36-year-old coach.

Iowa State (1-8, 0-6) hasn't gotten over the hump in the win column in these conference games, but is flashing some signs of life.

'I definitely see positives in our football team,” Campbell said. 'There is certainly some little things that sneak up and grab us in why we don't win the football game. I think the challenge for this team right now, right here is can we make those strides in the next three football games? Can we get ourselves over the hump?”

Quarterback Jacob Park got his first start Thursday, as did freshman running back David Montgomery, who started in place of Mike Warren (sprained ankle). Park completed 16 of 29 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, and Montgomery had 10 carries for 44 yards before leaving with concussion-like symptoms in the first half. He isn't expected to be out long.

The Cyclones amassed just 290 yards of offense on 56 plays to the 477 yards and 76 plays of the Sooners (7-2, 6-0). Park and Joel Lanning continued rotating at quarterback within the same series, helping the latter to seven carries and 61 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown run.

Even in Park's efficiency, it was the missed plays that stuck with him more than the ones he made.

'I had a curl route on fourth down to convert and keep the drive alive and I've made that throw I couldn't even tell you how many times,” Park said. 'That one time I didn't make it.

'That's the execution Coach is constantly preaching and that's what we need to do. Me personally, I take accountability for this one. I'm going to have nightmares for a while about this.”

Wide receiver Allen Lazard was a complement for the offense and reached another career milestone. He became the fourth ISU player to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards (2,059) and ranks third all-time in school history. He is tied for fifth with 14 career receiving touchdowns, has had a catch in 32 straight games and has seven catches of 30 yards or more this year.

Oklahoma made a couple game-changing plays on offense, but defensively Iowa State gave itself a chance. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns, but the Sooners were held under their season averages in points and total yards, with 34 points being their lowest output since Sept. 18.

Linebacker Willie Harvey was active in the pass rush and had nine tackles and a sack. Freshman JaQuan Bailey had six tackles and two tackles for loss while Demond Tucker had what Campbell called 'his best game” of the season and helped apply heavy pressure all night.

'We made some major steps tonight so I feel like this is a win for our program,” Tucker said.

Iowa State has its last road game on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Kansas up next. The Jayhawks are on a seven-game losing streak and have lost their last three games - at Baylor, Oklahoma State and at Oklahoma - by a combined 149-30.

The Cyclones have an extra two days to prepare for what is likely their best opportunity at another win this season.

'I'm going to depend on that senior class,” Campbell said. 'They've got a chance to put a stamp on this thing moving forward and then we're going to do a great job as coaches continuing to lead this group, but I think we'll be back and ready to go.”

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