Wanted: More turnovers

AMES - Ter'Ran Benton's seriously happy to see the Iowa State defense scoring points again.

Jokingly, he's a bit miffed.

“That pick six from A.J. (Klein in last week's loss at Missouri) had me upset because we had a bet,” said Benton, a Cyclone safety in search of his first career interception entering Saturday's 2:30 p.m. homecoming game against No. 17 Texas A & M. “Me and A.J. always have a bet on who will get the most interceptions. ... He's killing me.”

Klein's 78-yard interception return for touchdown on an otherwise dour day in Columbia may be the spark the ISU defense needs to ignite a firestorm of take-away activity.

Like wins and losses, turnovers can come in bunches.

“Hopefully, this is the beginning of something big and good for us,” defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said.

For the Cyclones (3-3, 0-3 Big 12), a flurry of unconventional points - or stops - could spur a revival against the heavily favored Aggies (4-2, 2-1).

“Any type of turnover we can get defensively is a big momentum shift in the game and gets our offense more opportunities to score,” said Klein, a junior who became ISU's all-time leader in picks for touchdowns with three. “It's obviously a big morale thing for our defense, too, just knowing we can get off the field quick and get our offense back on.”

That mood boost can sour quickly, however. The defense owns five of its 10 take-aways this season in the past two games. One, Klein's pick, turned into six points.

The others? Four punts, including two three and outs.

“It sucks letting then down,” said ISU quarterback Steele Jantz, who earlier this season lifted his team up in three comeback wins. “We've got to score, especially when they get turnovers. That's what we're working on.”

And the defense keeps focusing on poking and prodding the football away.

The Cyclones have allowed 1,190 yards in the last two weeks alone. Amping up take-away production helps offset giving up huge chunks of yards and points - but only if the offense can respond.

“It just feels like we've got to be mistake free and also be together,” Benton said. “Sometimes the offense gets off the field, we blame them, we fight against them. We can't do that. We've got to be more together because, like everybody always says, ‘Together you stand, divided you fall.' The last three games, we've been divided, and we've been falling.”

In other words, “All in,” can't be a mere motto.

It must be a way of life - with no room for wavering, frustration or resignation in the wake of three straight tough losses.

“We just have to put it behind us,” Klein said. “We have to look at the upcoming weeks optimistically and just move on and know there's room for improvement.”