Iowa state notes: Onside kick gives Cyclones second-half heartbeat

AMES — A lackluster first half had Iowa State needing any sort of thing to rally around.

Kickoff specialist Chris Francis was the one to deliver.

Kansas State stymied Iowa State in the first 30 minutes, led by two touchdowns and was set to receive the ball to start the second half. Then Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell sent the call into Francis: onside kick.

'We have it in the game plan a lot of times thinking we're going to run it,' Francis said after the Cyclones' 31-26 loss to the Wildcats. 'This week he called me into the coaches room and said, 'Are you ready to do it? How do you feel comfortable wise?' I said, 'I'm good. I'm ready to go.''

Francis connected with the ball and watched it bounce the necessary 10 yards before jumping on it himself. He saw one of the up-men for Kansas State (5-3, 3-2) drop back right before the kick, which gave him the space to make a hard charge after it.

'I think it just gave us life and gave us a heartbeat,' said Francis, who also has 24 touchbacks on the year. 'I think it was a big point in the game to turn our mood around.'

Here is that beautiful onside kick from Chris Francis to start the second half! October 29, 2016

Here is that beautiful onside kick from Chris Francis to start the second half! https://t.co/22Xb3Hhi1N

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB)

'I think that was the biggest play in the game even though we did end up losing,' said wide receiver Allen Lazard. 'Chris Francis, just his background and his story is very inspirational, and to see him come out and just have the successful year that's he's had in kickoffs and touchbacks — we're probably top-10, top-20 in the country for kickoff yards — just to see him go out and make that play and secure the ball, I know he practices all the time.

'To see that happen, I think it really swung the momentum to us.'

Hlas: An autumn of growing pains for Cyclones

Iowa State found the end zone on the ensuing drive when quarterback Jacob Park hit wide receiver Deshaunte Jones on a 24-yard post route, while the Cyclones had 360 yards of offense in the second half. Had it not been for a personal foul penalty on a third-down stop on the next K-State possession, the Cyclones (1-7, 0-5) could have potentially tied the game with their next outing.

Too many mistakes piled up for Iowa State to complete a come-from-behind win, but the Cyclones had a chance in the final minute to execute another onside kick. Place kicker Cole Netten attempted the boot, but an ISU player touched the ball before it traveled far enough.

'Well, I love Chris Francis,' Campbell said. 'He's really good at what he does. I had said from the beginning of the week we were going to do that no matter what the score was to start the second half. And we did.'

Montgomery, Warren shoulder different loads

Kansas State boasts the best rushing defense in the Big 12, holding opponents below 100 yards per game. Iowa State was able to find some success rushing, and accumulated 154 yards on the ground — the most given up by the Wildcats this season.

Quarterback Joel Lanning had 10 carries for 74 yards and a score while running back David Montgomery had nine carries for 39 yards. Sophomore Mike Warren had just six carries for 34 yards (5.7 ypc), and went without a carry in the first half.

ISU coach Matt Campbell was terse when asked about Warren's marginalized role.

'Well, we had a chance to win the football game,' Campbell said. 'Next question.'

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