Mistakes continue to cost Iowa State in 31-26 loss to Kansas State

AMES - Mistakes of all shapes and sizes have come to define this season for the Iowa State football team.

There's a saying that goes 'you are what your record says you are,” and for this ISU squad, the persistent head-scratching mistakes have made its 1-7 mark look like an accurate portrayal.

'I'm going to take this on me and our staff,” Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell said following Iowa State's 31-26 loss to Kansas State. 'There are some things that happened in the football game that we just can't allow to happen 8-9 weeks into the football season.

'We've got to find a way to be better in terms of what we're doing in terms of trying to put our kids in position to be successful. There's got to be some accountability from their end too and they have to be better, but it starts with me.”

There are plenty of areas the Cyclones (1-7, 0-5) could point to when trying to explain this loss to the Wildcats (5-3, 3-2) - the ninth-straight in the series and seventh in that time by eight points or less.

Mirroring its recent history with Kansas State, three of Iowa State's seven losses this season have come by five points or less with a fourth by seven points.

'I think just fundamentals (make the difference),” said wide receiver Allen Lazard, who had eight catches for 134 yards. 'Staying square on blocks, looking the ball in when you're catching it and defensively I can't really comment on that because I don't play on defense, but I think they just didn't execute to the best ability.”

Iowa State accumulated 493 total yards - the fourth time in the last five games of more than 400 yards of offense, but produced just 24 points offensively. The Wildcats had possession for 33:17 and were 8-of-12 on third down while scoring a touchdown off the only turnover of the game, an interception thrown by quarterback Jacob Park.

No one mistake loses a game, but when examining a five-point loss there are situations that stand taller than others as what-ifs.

Down 31-17 midway through the fourth quarter, Iowa State drove 77 yards to the K-State 1-yard line and had it first and goal. Three shotgun snaps to quarterback Joel Lanning - two designed runs and a handoff to running back David Montgomery - went for no gain. Park was called back in on fourth and one.

On the ensuing snap, Park rolled to his right and had Montgomery wide open in the end zone. He sent the pass over his head, out the back of the end zone and immediately put his head in his hands. Park was 19-for-35 passing for 301 yards and two scores, but knew a golden opportunity was missed.

'It was just a bad pass by me,” Park said. 'I made that throw a hundred times this week and didn't make it when it counted. It's something we've got to work on.

'We've got to be better and if that's on me and we've got to get under center and have success then certainly we're going to look at all things to say, ‘Man, why didn't we score?'” Campbell said. 'It's a valid question.”

After a quick three-and-out and 23-yard K-State field goal to start the game, the Cyclones drove 68 yards to the K-State 7-yard line. Lanning dropped back on third-and-goal, was hurried by Kendall Adams, sailed the pass over wide receiver Trever Ryen's outstretched arms and kicker Cole Netten converted on a field goal.

Two possessions later on third-and-eight, a wide-open Ryen dropped Park's pass that would have gone the distance and forced Iowa State to punt. Wide receiver Deshaunte Jones, who had five catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns, dropped a pass the play before.

Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz, a Mediapolis native, was 18-for-28 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 106 yards and helped the Wildcats jump out to a 17-3 halftime lead. Running back Justin Silmon had nine carries for 54 yards while wide receiver Deante Burton had five catches for 72 yards.

'Just mental mistakes, football mistakes,” said safety Kamari Cotton-Moya, who had a team-high nine tackles. 'Everyone makes mistakes, it's just sometimes when the offense capitalizes on your mistakes it's going to be a rough game.”

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