Coming off a huge win against TCU and having to face Baylor and Oklahoma in the upcoming weeks, it was easy for the Cowboys to overlook a 3-6 Iowa State team. This was without a doubt a trap game; just like in 2011 when the Cowboys had national title hopes but lost to, who else, Iowa State. For the superstitious Cowboys fan, this was a game that hit too close to home. The coincidences were much too similar: the Cowboys have title hopes and the game was at Iowa State just like four years ago. Head coach Mike Gundy stressed to the Cowboys that history can repeat itself, and that is what looked like was going to happen as the Cyclones took a 24-14 into halftime. The Cowboys were able to step it up in the second half only allowing the Cyclones one touchdown, as the Cowboys remained perfect with a 35-31 victory.
Although he didn't have another five touchdown game, quarterback Mason Rudolph still played well. Rudolph went 24-36 for 327 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph seemed to not be very efficient in the first half, but just like the whole Cowboys team, he stepped it up in the second half. The MVP of the day was definitely J.W. Walsh. Walsh went 2-2 passing with 16 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 28 yards on 12 carries with two rushing touchdowns. While these aren't numbers that will "wow" spectators, Walsh made every big play when he needed to, including the go-ahead touchdown pass to Jeff Carr with three minutes left. Chris Carson was finally able to find some running room, rushing for 70 yards on 12 carries and scoring his first rushing touchdown since week four. Marcell Ateman stepped up big for the Cowboys with eight receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown. David Glidden also had a good day with 6 receptions for 85 yards. James Washington wasn't really himself Saturday only having four receptions for 48 yards and a couple drops mixed in there. Despite the first half struggles, the Cowboys were able to figure out the Cyclones' defensive scheme in the second half and keep the win streak alive.
The first half struggles were very apparent with the defense. Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning destroyed the defense in the first half. When it was over, he accounted for 292 total yards and three total touchdowns. Lanning ran for a huge 21-yard touchdown to end the third quarter and put the Cyclones up 10. But, the fourth quarter was where the defense really proved themselves. The Cowboys were able to stop the Cyclones' fourth down try and after a quick three and out by the offense, the Cowboy defense intercepted Lanning on the very next play to seal the game. Jordan Sterns and Emmanuel Ogbah were the stars of the defense. Sterns accounted for eight tackles and an interception, and Ogbah accounted for 7 tackles, including two sacks. While it was a slow stat for the defense, they ended the game with a lot of energy to head into next week.
Next week, the Cowboys take on the Baylor Bears in Stillwater. In their second big test of the year, the Cowboys need a win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Baylor is always a tough team to play and it should make for a very intense game.
