Cyclones rally again, top UConn, 24-20

By Justin Verrier, Correspondent

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Less than a week after tossing four touchdowns to lead Iowa State over in-state rival Iowa in triple-overtime in the crowning achievement of his young career -- and perhaps for any Cyclones signal-caller since the days of Seneca Wallace – Steele Jantz's encore didn't exactly live up to the hype.

The junior college transfer threw three interceptions in the first quarter and was forced to leave the field at halftime a play early after injuring his left leg. But despite the ding, and a relatively dinged-up effort from thereon out, the quarterback came through when they needed him.

Close enough, at least, for Darius Reynolds to take the Cyclones the rest of the way.

Down three with just over nine minutes remaining in the game, Jantz hit an open Reynolds on the right sideline. The senior wideout shook off one defender and lept over another before streaking into the end zone for what would be the deciding touchdown Iowa State's 24-20 victory before 37,195 at Rentschler Field.

Reynolds, the team's second-leading receiver coming into the game, finished with four grabs for a career-high 128 yards and two touchdowns.

After trading offensive possessions, with each team getting but one first down, a pass interference call on Jeremy Reeves brought the Huskies within striking distance on the Cyclones' 46-yard line with three minutes to go. But an underthrown pass by Johnny McEntee to Kashif Moore on third-and-2 with 1:53 to play forced into a must-convert fourth down, and another off-the-mark throw sealed UConn's fate.

Jantz would finish a modest 18-for-29 for 200 yards with one touchdowns and three interceptions, but the Cyclones' best pass play on the game came from the arm of a receiver.

On first down from the Iowa State 40-yard line with 11:18 to go in the third, Jantz handed it off to James White running right, who promptly flipped the ball to junior wide receiver Josh Lenz streaking in the other direction. With two defenders in his face, Lenz let the ball fly from his glove-adorned hand and hit a wide-open Reynolds, who made sure to stop and wave the ball at the UConn defense before he crossed the goal line for a 40-yard touchdown to take a 14-10 lead, the Cyclones' first of the game.

The Huskies would respond on the next possession, using a 41-yard pitch-and-catch from walk-on QB Johnny McEntee to receiver Isiah Moore to set up a 50-yard Dave Teggart field goal. Iowa State fought back on the ensuing possession, as a stalled drive stalled on a three-and-out led to Zach Guyer connecting on his first career field goal from 36 yards out give the Cyclones the 17-13 lead.

Kashif Moore lept over Jeremy Reeves to haul in a 39-yard touchdown pass to give the Huskies the 20-17 advantage with 12:51 remaining, but the Huskies' offense ran out of steam after Reynolds' winning grab.

On the Cyclones' first play from scrimmage, Jantz underthrew a streaking receiver on the near sideline and was picked off by UConn cornerback Dwayne Gratz.

After taking a drive-killing sack on third down on the following Iowa State possession, Jantz was picked off again, this time on a rollout to the left on third-and-21 from the Cyclone 24-yard line with 3:28 to play. He would finish a forgettable first quarter with one more interception, as the ball caromed off the hands of tight end Kurt Hammerschmidt and into the mitts of the Huskies Jory Johnson.

The Cyclones finished the first frame with one more yard (four) than interceptions (three), with Jantz a ghastly 0-for-4.

An inconsistent UConn offense that rotated three different quarterbacks throughout opened strong, as fleet-footed quarterback Scott McCummings scored on an 11-yard run on the game's first possession.

But as Jantz and the offense coughed the ball in enemy territory, the defense was able to plug the holes, holding the Huskies to just 10 first-half points and three Dave Teggart field attempts -- two of which missed the mark.