Cyclones Roll Rebels, 48-3

After a week that most of us are trying to forget, the Cyclones travel to Las Vegas to take on the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV. The Rebels haven’t tallied a win since November of 2019, big opportunity for Iowa State to get back on track. A 9:30 pm kick isn’t ideal, but here we go.

Utah scores with 16 seconds left to bring it within 2 of San Diego State, because why we would we be able to have nice things. 2 point conversion time. Bunch to the left. Utah has a receiver wide open, overtime! This is so much fun and I love watching other teams than Iowa State after waiting for a 9:30 kickoff.

Breece Hall just had a big run so I’ve heard. Iowa State in UNLV territory early. The offense coming alive, a sight to see that I am not seeing. A big 3rd and 8 conversion has the Cyclones in the red zone, Charlie Kolar on the receiving end. Touchdown San Diego State! Touchdown Breece Hall! Cyclones and Aztecs rolling as we speak. Breece Hall gets his 15th straight game with a rushing touchdown to extend his school record. Sike, call reversed. Touchdown Utah! Clones from the one yard line, Breece up the middle and this one counts after the review! he’s an inch short. Purdy from under center hands off to Hall and now Hall ties the Big 12 record for most consecutive games with a rushing touchdowns, 13 plays, 72 yards and just under 7 minutes for the Cyclones to take an early lead. Better news, Utah just missed the field goal to go ahead. Let’s go Aztecs!

Ensuing kick sees (I didn’t really see it, thanks CBS) Andrew Mevis kick it into the endzone, Rebels, set up shop from their own 25. San Diego State now lining up for a game winner from 36 yards out, and of course it’s no good. I think the Cyclones defense is playing well, aside from a bogus Anthony Johnson PI that has UNLV drive still alive. Cyclones get a stop on the next 3rd down to force the UNLV punt team onto the field.

2 point conversion for San Diego State, and they break out the Philly Special! We have a lead change! Utah up now. Tight end is always open, 2 point is good. More free football I guess. Ope, they are reviewing the play because we go too close to watching football I care about. Overturned! Ball game! Aztecs win! Who cares.

Cyclones get the ball back at their own 25, Charlie Kolar opens up the possession with a 20 yard catch, and I am watching the game on my television. Breece Hall follows that up with a 25 yard run and the Clonies are on the move. The Purdy-Kolar connection is alive and well, Kolar racking up the catches early on. Runnin’ Rebels get a 3rd down stop, but Brock Purdy keeps a read option and picks up 15 yards to not only get the first down, but back in the red zone. Breece Hall gets a trifecta of carries, and finally hits paydirt to put the Cyclones up by a pair of scores after the first play of the second quarter. Hall knocking on the door of 100 yards already.

Drake Nettles kicks the ball out of bounds on the kickoff. It’s a good thing ISU’s defense is like Joe Flacco (elite) and the kickoff had no effect on the possession, forcing a turnover on downs to get the ball back. Brock Purdy shows why he’s QB1, and Breece is doing his thing. Iowa State is unable to convert a 4th and goal, UNLV takes over inside their own 1 yard line. 3 and out for the Rebels, ISU back with the ball on UNLV’s half of the field. A couple Xavier Hutchinson catch and runs has the Cyclones offense moving. Brock Purdy unfortunately catches a helmet to the ball, and UNLV recovers the fumble. Isheem Young says “GIMME THAT BACK” and gets the ball back via INT just three plays later. Fast forward three more plays, Brock Purdy finds Xavier Hutchinson for the first TD connection of the 2021 campaign. 21-0 Whirly Birds with under 2 to play in the first half.

After a few penalties and more ISU elite defense, the Cyclones get the ball back with a chance to extend the lead with 1:05 left in the first half. Brock Purdy finds the X man twice, and a personal foul has Iowa State on the 14 yard line. Purdy drops back and finds Joe Scates for a touchdown! Holding. 14 seconds to play from the 24. Now Purdy scrambles and gets next to nothing, Guess, Blake, and Mevis take the field for the chance to add a field goal before the break. Snap good, hold good, kick good from 41 yards out, 24-0 at the half. Cyclones out-gaining the Rebels 304-18 in total yardage. Worth noting, Brock Purdy broke the school record for all-time passing yards, surpassing Bret Meyer.

UNLV started the 2nd half from their own 19 yard line, and it took one play for Tate Martell to enter the game. Don’t matta, 3 and out again. Jaylen Noel returns (yes, you read that right) the punt and gets ISU into decent field position near the 50 yard line. Sean Shaw makes his first catch of the season to get Iowa State started. Kolar finishes, as Purdy finds him wide open up the seam for a 35 yard touchdown! 31-0 good guys 4 minutes into the 3rd quarter.

Signs of life from the UNLV offense, picking up a few first downs, before eventually connecting on a 31 yard field goal, 31-3 Cyclones. Eli Sanders brings the ensuing kickoff out to the 31, and Brock Purdy finds Joe Scates for a 33 yard catch and run, followed by a Hall run and another Scates-Purdy connection to get ISU in the red zone. Next play, Purdy finds Hutchinson on the RPO for another score, touchdown Cyclones! 38-3 with a minute left in the 3rd quarter.

UNLV continues to move the ball, but the fighting Jon Heacock’s get a 4th down stop. Hunter Dekkers enters for the Cyclones. Brock hits the sidelines with a 21/24, 288 yards and a 3 touchdowns, all while becoming the school’s all-time leading passer. The only notable things to happen in the 4th quarter was Andrew Mevis nailing a field goal from 54 yards yards out and Dion Silas recording his first career rushing touchdown. So we got that going for us, which is nice.

That would be all for Iowa State in Vegas, beating the Rebels, 48-3. The Cyclones get the Baylor Bears next Saturday.