Iowa State Cyclones large receiver Jayden Higgins (9) catches the ball round Arkansas State Crimson Wolves cornerback Justin Hodges (0) throughout the first quarter within the week-4 NCAA soccer at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. No. 18 Iowa State received its first three video games by a median of 21.3 factors, however Cyclones coach Matt Campbell is not in the least impressed.
Iowa State (3-0, 0-0 Massive 12) seems to be to please its coach on Saturday when it visits Houston (1-3, 0-1) within the Cyclones’ convention opener.
The Cyclones do have a 20-19 victory over fierce rival Iowa on the ledger, however Campbell mentioned his staff has to carry out a lot better to outlive in Massive 12 play.
“We have loads to show. We’re a soccer staff that is bought quite a lot of work to do,” Campbell mentioned. “Whenever you get into convention play, you need to be at the least creating some momentum for your self. We had been in a position to do a few of that at occasions. However to win within the Massive 12 is tough. To win week in and week out is actually, actually exhausting.
“The problem for us is can we preserve getting higher? Can we preserve bettering? Can we proceed to indicate up? We’re on the street (this) week, which is not straightforward to do. It is actually exhausting to win convention video games on the street, and it will be an incredible problem for us.”
Iowa State rolled to a 52-7 dwelling win over Arkansas State final weekend, constructing a 31-0 halftime lead and cruising to Campbell’s 56th win at Iowa State. That tied him with Dan McCarney (1995-2006) for many victories in class historical past.
Jayden Higgins (17 catches, 208 yards, three touchdowns in three video games) caught a landing cross for the fifth straight recreation to match the college file. Sidekick Jaylin Noel (15-317, two TDs) has caught at the least one cross in 35 consecutive video games, the fourth-longest streak in class historical past.
Cornerback Darien Porter has a team-best two interceptions for a protection that ranks ninth nationally in opponents’ scoring at 9.67 factors per recreation.
The Cougars may have a tough time shifting the ball in opposition to the Cyclones after being blanked 34-0 by host Cincinnati final weekend. Houston had simply 233 whole yards and 12 first downs.
The poor efficiency led first-year coach Willie Fritz to modify to a two-quarterback system. Donovan Smith will begin in opposition to Iowa State, however backup Zeon Chriss additionally will see motion.
Smith has thrown 4 interceptions whereas finishing 65.3 p.c of his passes for 610 yards and two touchdowns. Chriss is 2-for-5 passing for 19 yards.
“They’ve each achieved some good issues,” Fritz mentioned. “I’ve seen some good issues and a few issues not so good. We will play each of these guys, and we’ll give each alternatives to indicate us what they’ll do. We have to play higher on the different 10 guys. That is a giant half.
“The quarterback will get an excessive amount of credit score when issues go nicely, they usually get an excessive amount of blame when issues do not go nicely. The entire offense has bought to play higher. That begins with the top coach, the coordinators and the place coaches as nicely. We have to do a greater job.”
The Cougars rank 129th (out of 133 FBS colleges) in scoring at 13 factors per recreation, they usually sit 122nd in whole offense at 294.2 yards per recreation.
Houston security A.J. Haulcy had 11 tackles in opposition to Cincinnati for his eighth profession recreation of 10 or extra stops. Linebacker Michael Batton had a season-high 10 tackles.
That is the primary assembly between the groups.
–Subject Degree Media
