Iowa State hoping to finish strong, starting with K-State

Iowa State hoping to finish strong, starting with K-State

AMES (AP) — After 10 games, Iowa State finally has a realistic shot at a winning streak.

A couple more wins won’t be enough to save their bowl hopes. But it might be enough to save coach Paul Rhoads’ job.

The Cyclones (3-7, 2-5 Big 12), who’ve lost to five of the top 11 teams in this week’s AP rankings, close the season against Kansas State (3-6, 0-6) and West Virginia (5-4, 2-4).

Rhoads, now in his seventh season, said the chance to finish fifth in the Big 12 for the first time since the league went to 10 teams and the chance to grab four Big 12 wins will be motivating factors for the program.

They’d be “great accomplishments for our football program,” Rhoads said Monday. The Cyclones have gone 1-2 since athletic director Jamie Pollard said the program needed to “make some hay” in the final five games. Iowa State started this stretch with an inspired shutout of Texas, though it quickly lost its momentum in a 52-16 loss at No. 7 Oklahoma. The Cyclones jumped all over No. 4 Oklahoma State last weekend, taking a 17-point lead in the first half. They lost 35-31 on a late touchdown in one of the most painful finishes of the Rhoads era. Fans, including star freshman running Mike Warren’s mother, took to social media to complain about new offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy’s play calling. The play that drew the most questions was a complicated pass play on 3rd-down-and-1 in the second half — when Iowa State’s thought it was first down instead.

But according to sophomore quarterback Joel Lanning, a simple lack of execution in the second half doomed Iowa State, which only scored seven points after halftime.

“It came down to a few drives where we needed to score and we couldn’t get it done. That’s the most frustrating thing about it,” Lanning said.

The final two weeks should also allow Iowa State to see what they have in Lanning and its other young guys.

Lanning has already established himself as one of the Big 12’s best running quarterbacks. Lanning has 231 yards on the ground, including 130 with two touchdowns against the Cowboys.

Lanning has also thrown for 874 yards and seven TDs, though he’s completing just 54 percent of his passes. He also threw a terrible pick on the first play of Iowa State’s final drive against Oklahoma State.

But Lanning, along with Warren, rising sophomore receiver Allen Lazard and starters expected back on defense could help convince Pollard that Rhoads deserves another year.

That might be tough to do if the Cyclones lose their last two games though.

“I’m extremely excited about the future. I’m excited about how we’ve performed most times this season,” Rhoads said.” I love the culture of our football team right now and everything they’re giving.”