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Road sweet road
ISU wins first road game since 2005
By Josh Johnston
Date Posted: 2009-09-19
KENT, Ohio – Austen Arnaud didn’t need long to make up for last week’s shaky performance against Iowa.
After throwing four interceptions in a 35-3 loss to the Hawkeyes, Iowa State’s junior quarterback completed 13 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in a 34-14 rout of Kent State on Saturday night at Dix Stadium.
With the win, ISU snapped the nation’s longest road losing streak. The Cyclones hadn’t won a road game since beating Texas A&M 42-14 in College Station in 2005, a streak of 17 games.
“You go into every game to win it,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “We prepared to win this football game. It just happened to be on the road.
“We had the end of a long road losing streak, and that’s how it played out.”
Not everything was pristine Saturday night for the Cyclones, however. ISU turned the ball over four times and committed eight penalties that set the team back 85 yards. The Flashes were no better, equaling ISU with four lost fumbles, an interception and 69 penalty yards.
Benefiting from two penalties totaling 20 yards and a 31-yard return on the opening kickoff, Arnaud reeled off three straight passes to wide receiver Marquis Hamilton for 32 yards. Kicker Grant Mahoney finished the drive with a 20-yard field goal to put ISU on the scoreboard first.
“When you throw and catch balls it tends to take care of your confidence,” Rhoads said. “That drive was very reflective in that case.”
Arnaud had the ball stripped from him by KSU safety Brian Lainhart on the first play of the Cyclones’ next series. The turnover set up a 44-yard floater pass from quarterback Spencer Keith to Dri Archer for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
The Flashes didn’t find the end zone again in the first half.
Behind Arnaud’s passing and explosive running from running back Alexander Robinson, ISU scored 24 unanswered points before the half to take command of the game. Three fumbles, including two on punt returns, by KSU helped the Cyclones’ cause.
Both fumbled punt recoveries set up ISU with a short field for two quick touchdowns. Arnaud carried the ball in for both scores, on runs of nine and three yards. On the night, Arnaud rushed for 42 yards. His touchdown pass was a 22-yarder to Jake Williams in the first quarter.
The Cyclones’ defense held down Kent State’s injury-plagued offense, forcing five three-and-out series. Earlier this the week, KSU announced both starting quarterback Giorgio Morgan and top running back Eugene Jarvis would not play because of injuries sustained in previous games.
“A guy like (Jarvis) keeps everybody grounded and keeps them moving forward,” Rhoads said. “I’m sure they missed him in a number of ways.”
In the Cyclones’ first series after halftime, Robinson carried for 57 yards on four rushes to fuel an 81-yard touchdown drive. He finished the game with 143 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown, a 15-yard run in the third quarter.
“A-Rob’s been a great help this whole season,” Arnaud said. “He doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. He’s a great back.”
Once ISU scored in the third quarter to go up 34-7, the team began losing steam. The Cyclones’ defense allowed the Flashes to move the ball 185 yards in the second half, including a five-play, 21-yard touchdown drive.
On the other side of the ball, ISU struggled to move down the field while coughing up two fumbles.
“Credit to Kent State, they played a heck of a second half on defense,” Arnaud said. “They basically shut us out. We’ve definitely got to get better.”
ISU wins first road game since 2005
By Josh Johnston
Date Posted: 2009-09-19
Iowa State players and Kent State players scramble to recover a fumble Saturday. The Cyclones ended the nation's longest road losing streak (17 games) with their 34-14 win.
Photo by Daniel Doherty/Special to the Tribune
Photo by Daniel Doherty/Special to the Tribune
KENT, Ohio – Austen Arnaud didn’t need long to make up for last week’s shaky performance against Iowa.
After throwing four interceptions in a 35-3 loss to the Hawkeyes, Iowa State’s junior quarterback completed 13 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in a 34-14 rout of Kent State on Saturday night at Dix Stadium.
With the win, ISU snapped the nation’s longest road losing streak. The Cyclones hadn’t won a road game since beating Texas A&M 42-14 in College Station in 2005, a streak of 17 games.
“You go into every game to win it,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “We prepared to win this football game. It just happened to be on the road.
“We had the end of a long road losing streak, and that’s how it played out.”
Not everything was pristine Saturday night for the Cyclones, however. ISU turned the ball over four times and committed eight penalties that set the team back 85 yards. The Flashes were no better, equaling ISU with four lost fumbles, an interception and 69 penalty yards.
Benefiting from two penalties totaling 20 yards and a 31-yard return on the opening kickoff, Arnaud reeled off three straight passes to wide receiver Marquis Hamilton for 32 yards. Kicker Grant Mahoney finished the drive with a 20-yard field goal to put ISU on the scoreboard first.
“When you throw and catch balls it tends to take care of your confidence,” Rhoads said. “That drive was very reflective in that case.”
Arnaud had the ball stripped from him by KSU safety Brian Lainhart on the first play of the Cyclones’ next series. The turnover set up a 44-yard floater pass from quarterback Spencer Keith to Dri Archer for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
The Flashes didn’t find the end zone again in the first half.
Behind Arnaud’s passing and explosive running from running back Alexander Robinson, ISU scored 24 unanswered points before the half to take command of the game. Three fumbles, including two on punt returns, by KSU helped the Cyclones’ cause.
Both fumbled punt recoveries set up ISU with a short field for two quick touchdowns. Arnaud carried the ball in for both scores, on runs of nine and three yards. On the night, Arnaud rushed for 42 yards. His touchdown pass was a 22-yarder to Jake Williams in the first quarter.
The Cyclones’ defense held down Kent State’s injury-plagued offense, forcing five three-and-out series. Earlier this the week, KSU announced both starting quarterback Giorgio Morgan and top running back Eugene Jarvis would not play because of injuries sustained in previous games.
“A guy like (Jarvis) keeps everybody grounded and keeps them moving forward,” Rhoads said. “I’m sure they missed him in a number of ways.”
In the Cyclones’ first series after halftime, Robinson carried for 57 yards on four rushes to fuel an 81-yard touchdown drive. He finished the game with 143 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown, a 15-yard run in the third quarter.
“A-Rob’s been a great help this whole season,” Arnaud said. “He doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. He’s a great back.”
Once ISU scored in the third quarter to go up 34-7, the team began losing steam. The Cyclones’ defense allowed the Flashes to move the ball 185 yards in the second half, including a five-play, 21-yard touchdown drive.
On the other side of the ball, ISU struggled to move down the field while coughing up two fumbles.
“Credit to Kent State, they played a heck of a second half on defense,” Arnaud said. “They basically shut us out. We’ve definitely got to get better.”
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