Iowa State kept piling up the big moments Saturday against Bowling Green at Jack Trice Stadium, and the Cyclones showed plenty of different ways to swing the game their way in the first half.
The early stretch had a little bit of everything. Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers reacted after an interception in the first quarter, while the defense kept Bowling Green under pressure with stops from Sullivan Schlimgen, Willie Breland III, Jace Gilbert and Seth Johnson. Gilbert and Johnson teamed up to bring down Bowling Green running back Austyn Dendy, and Breland was also in on a tackle of Nakai Amachree.
There was activity on special teams too, with punt returner Aiden Flora breaking a tackle attempt from Bowling Green’s Nick Sawyer on a first-quarter return. Flora also made his mark on offense later in the quarter, celebrating with Braden Smith after scoring a touchdown.
Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor added to the first-quarter momentum by running for a first down, then connected with Ty Claborne on a catch that turned into more yardage before Bowling Green defensive back Drey Braxton could finish the play. Running back Cameron Pettaway also hauled in a pass and was pushed out of bounds by safety Preston Estoesta.
The Cyclones’ defense wasn’t done. Teammates gathered around injured cornerback Jaheim Singletary after he was hurt in the first quarter, and Jack Janikowski followed with a second-quarter celebration after creating a fumble against Bowling Green.
Raynor went back to work in the second quarter, throwing the ball as Iowa State kept its offense moving. Then Arnold Barnes III punched in a touchdown run against Bowling Green, giving the Cyclones another highlight in a game that featured impact plays on both sides of the ball.
In Other News...
Iowa State Defense Hit With A Scary Early Injury Scare
Iowa States defense got an unwelcome jolt early in Saturdays game against Bowling Green when defensive back Jaheim Singletary went down after a collision with a teammate in the first quarter. The senior transfer was carted off the field, turning an ordinary early-game sequence into the kind of scene that quiets a sideline fast.
Singletary, a redshirt senior in his first season with the Cyclones after transferring from Arkansas, had become one of the more notable new faces in the secondary. There was no immediate update on the severity of the injury, leaving Iowa State waiting for a clearer picture on both his status and what it could mean for a defense that could ill afford to lose another experienced piece. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Had A Breakout Win Fans Wont Soon Forget
Aiden Flora gave Iowa State one of those afternoons that can swing a seasons mood in a hurry, piling up a career-best 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the Cyclones rolled past Bowling Green 55-7 to move to 2-1. The offense was efficient and explosive all at once, finishing with 507 total yards, while the defense helped keep the game firmly in control by forcing two turnovers.
The special teams added to the avalanche, with Cameron Pettaway taking a kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown and Flora later breaking a 66-yard punt return for another score. For a program looking to build momentum early, it was the kind of complete performance that leaves a mark well beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State May Have Found The Missing Piece Before Big 12 Play
The early-season tune-up against Bowling Green gave Iowa State a chance to look the part of a Big 12 team with plenty still to sort out, and the ground game was the clearest reason for optimism. Aiden Flora headlined the performance with 194 rushing yards and three total touchdowns, giving the Cyclones a much-needed burst of explosiveness in a convincing win.
Jaylen Raynor and Arnold Barnes III also chipped in with meaningful rushing production and scores, which mattered as much as any individual breakout. For a team heading toward league play, the bigger takeaway may be that Iowa State suddenly looks like it has more than one way to stress a defense, and that kind of balance can change the feel of a season quickly. [Read more 🡒]