Iowa State eyes better midweek practices, faces quick turnaround

AMES - Following another loss to a conference opponent that was sprinkled with mistakes, Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell was asked what contributed to a sluggish start.

The first-year Cyclones coach took the opportunity to give a response that side stepped the conventional. His team indirectly lost Saturday's game, 31-26 to Kansas State, during practice Tuesday and Wednesday of last week.

A system he's dubbed 'The Process” is a seven-day-a-week affair.

'It's what I said all season long, until we understand, both playing and coaching, how important Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday are then you don't make those mistakes come Friday and obviously into the game on Saturday,” Campbell said. 'That's where we've got to be better.”

Iowa State (1-7, 0-5) turned a 21-point deficit into a five-point loss over the final 15:27, but could never make the one game-changing play that would put them in a favorable spot. Kickoff specialist Chris Francis executed an onside kick to begin the second half that led to a touchdown, but the difference came down to a failure to execute.

Quarterback Jacob Park, despite an interception and a miss on a would-be touchdown pass to running back David Montgomery, turned in a productive day through the air. He was 19-of-35 passing for 301 yards - a career high - and two touchdowns, while becoming the first ISU player to throw for more than 300 yards since 2014.

The missed opportunities are certainly present in Park's mind, but he also sees progress, particularly in the youngsters. Montgomery had nine carries for 39 yards while wide receiver Deshaunte Jones had five catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns - senior Dondre Daley added four catches for 60 yards.

'We've just got to finish the game,” Park said. 'I think the fourth quarter was one of our stronger fourth quarters this year. We made a few mistakes in the fourth quarter that ended a couple drives, but at the end of the day I think we did a pretty good job.”

The Cyclones rotated quarterbacks from series to series, but in the fourth quarter Park and Joel Lanning rotated within the same series. Lanning was just 4-of-7 passing, but had 10 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown to lead ISU rushers. On a short turnaround, Iowa State expects to continue utilizing both quarterbacks.

No. 11 Oklahoma pays a visit to Jack Trice Stadium on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN), fresh off a 56-3 win against Kansas. Iowa State hasn't beaten the Sooners since a 1990 win in Norman and on a short week of rest, the attention to detail in practices has priority over just about everything.

'Usually we have a day off to rest our bodies, but now we have a quick turnaround,” said wide receiver Allen Lazard, who had eight catches for 134 yards against Kansas State. 'We have to be able to look through the film that we had from today and then also prepare at the same time. (Sunday) should be a fun, chaotic day.”

Since losing two of its first three games, Oklahoma has won five straight and averaged 51.4 points per game and will surely be another test for the ISU defense.

Iowa State struggled just as much on defense in the first half against the Wildcats - and tackling on first contact was a persistent issue - but the unit allowed just 141 yards and 14 points in the last 30 minutes.

'I really think you're going to look at the film and you're going to say, ‘We just played better in the second half,'” Campbell said. 'That's where it goes back on me. Me as the coach and me and our staff, we've got to get our kids to play better football than what we did in the first half of the game.”

Even after four losses that have come by seven points or less and the inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, Iowa State still recognizes the opportunities that lie ahead.

'I think our confidence is still high,” said safety Kamari Cotton-Moya. 'The season isn't going the way [we want it], but I don't think anyone is calling it quits around here. New coaching staff, we trust them, they trust us. We just have to make more football plays and execute the game plan.”

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