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Pair of pick-6s help Iowa State power past UNI, 42-24
AMES — Too much newness and a lack of execution doomed the Iowa State football team in its season-opening loss to Northern Iowa last season.
The Cyclones put those in their rearview mirror Saturday and turned it around on the Panthers in the first half.
Two interception returns for touchdowns and a healthy dose of sophomore running back David Montgomery helped Iowa State power past Northern Iowa 42-24 in Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones' (1-0) 42 points is the most in a season opener since 2008 versus South Dakota State (44-17).
Quarterback Jacob Park was 27-for-35 passing for 271 yards and two touchdowns while senior Allen Lazard became the all-time receptions leader at Iowa State — passing Todd Blythe — with eight catches for 108 yards.
Iowa State started slow on both sides of the ball while Northern Iowa (0-1) and quarterback Eli Dunne came out clicking. Dunne went 4-for-4 passing for 66 yards on the first Panthers drive and found wide receiver Isaiah Weston for an 18-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
'The thing I was probably most impressed with is we didn't panic throughout the football game,' said Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell. 'Obviously they go down the first drive of the football game, they go score, I think you watch a bunch of first games over the last four or five days and we talked so much about control the controllables.
'I thought our kids really did a great job of that throughout the football game.'
After completions of 15 and 13 yards to Hakeem Butler and Trever Ryen, Park and the offense sputtered and were forced to punt. That's when the ISU defense found its rhythm, brought some pressure and got on the board.
Senior linebacker Joel Lanning, who finished with seven tackles and became the first two-way player in an ISU game since Joe Woodley in 2002, recorded a hurry on Dunne when the junior rolled to the right. Dunne lofted his pass to the right sideline when junior linebacker Willie Harvey tipped the ball to himself and ran 12 yards to the end zone to help Iowa State tie the game at 7-all.
Here is that pick-six from Willie Harvey to tie the game up at 7! September 3, 2017
Here is that pick-six from Willie Harvey to tie the game up at 7! pic.twitter.com/cSbd5dfNsp
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB)
"I feel like the defense was the offense tonight, honestly,' Montgomery said. 'Willie Harvey, that's my big brother. He really took control and did what he had to do. Coach Campbell always harps on trusting the process and taking on the process. He did that this week. He was in the film room as much as I was in the film room. That helped.'
Two series later, senior free safety Kamari Cotton-Moya jumped in front of Dunne's pass and returned it 22 yards to score. Dunne, who finished 23-for-38 passing for 259 yards and three touchdowns, tossed one more pick in the first half when junior cornerback Brian Peavy tapped the ball back to himself early in the second quarter.
UNI kicker Sam Drysdale tacked on a 43-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to make it 14-10 Iowa State, but the Cyclones started to find their stride offensively, particularly on the strength of Montgomery.
Here is the second pick-six of the game, this time from Kamari Cotton-Moya! September 3, 2017
Here is the second pick-six of the game, this time from Kamari Cotton-Moya! pic.twitter.com/vIr0gigNG6
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB)
Montgomery, who finished with 14 carries for 82 yards and two scores, had three carries for 29 yards on the ensuing drive to get into the end zone and give Iowa State a 21-10 lead at halftime.
'Those first few series; I think we were 0-for-4 in the first half on third downs,' Lazard said. 'That was very disappointing to start like that, but we just ended up preaching this whole entire offseason and this whole camp to stick with it. Just let the ball roll in our favor.'
Coming out of the break, Iowa State engineered a nine-play, 65-yard drive spanning 3:40 that Montgomery capped with a three-yard score. Park found senior wide receiver Marchie Murdock on the next ISU possession to give the Cyclones a 35-10 lead midway through the third quarter — Northern Iowa had only gained two yards in the half at that point.
Iowa State forced Northern Iowa into a 1st and 30 situation on the Panthers' next possession, but personal foul penalties on linebacker Jack Spreen and defensive end JaQuan Bailey helped put Dunne in position to hit receiver Jaylin James for an 18-yard touchdown.
Trevor Allen was the Panthers' leading rusher with 12 carries for 87 yards. Weston led the team in receiving with four catches for 72 yards.
Since 2010, Iowa State is 4-2 against Northern Iowa.
l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com
Iowa State's Kamari Cotton-Moya (5) runs the ball in for a touchdown on an interception on Northern Iowa in the first quarter Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. (Scott Morgan/freelance)
