Cyclones' offense comes alive against Red Raiders

AMES - Iowa State came into Saturday night's game with Texas Tech, statistically speaking, as the Big 12's least potent offense.

It ended the night with a season-high 441 yards and a scoring total that hadn't been matched against a conference opponent since the Nixon administration. The Cyclones had the offense humming in a 52-38 victory at Jack Trice Stadium, much to the delight of what's been a frustrated bunch of players and coaches.

Coach Paul Rhoads hopes the offensive momentum built can continue.

“We're going to play some great defenses this season, but we are growing,” Rhoads said. “We're in our infancy still in this program. We've played 18 games, but we may have turned a corner today.”

It was the most points scored by an ISU team in eight years and most against a league foe since a 55-22 victory over Kansas State on Oct. 21, 1972, as a member of the Big Eight.

Quarterback Austen Arnaud and his on-target passing was the real key - and a big reason why ISU (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) had a pair of runners go over 100 yards.

The Cyclones used the pass to set up a season-best 251 yards rushing.

“You could tell that from the opening play,” said tailback Alexander Robinson, who had 103 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. “That's was our intention coming in and it worked out for us.”

Arnaud, back in the lineup after missing almost all of last week's game because of shoulder injury, was 20-of-28 for 190 yards and a career-best four touchdowns.

His 36-yard touchdown strike to Darius Reynolds in the second quarter was exactly the kind of stretch-the-field play the Cyclones needed. It was big for Reynolds, too.

The junior was expected to be a bigger part of the offense.

“I mentioned to Darius that it's time to wake up,” Rhoads said. “This is his ninth game and he's got too much talent and does too many good things in practice. It's time to wake up and I think he did that.”

Reynolds was one of four Cyclones who scored the first touchdown of their careers against the Red Raiders.

Receiver Josh Lenz had a 14-yard catch, tight end Kurt Hammerschmidt caught a 4-yard pass and freshman tailback Shontrelle Johnson electrified the crowd with a 61-yard sprint to the end zone in the fourth quarter that gave ISU some breathing room after giving away a 24-0 first-half lead.

“I trust in my speed. I made a cut and I saw green so I ran to it,” Johnson said. “I feel that's something I bring to the table. I can try to make big runs. I've kinda been waiting, sitting back and being patient. It finally came to me.”