AMES, Iowa (AP) — The challenge for Iowa State after stunning Oklahoma on the road was to see if it could handle success.
Kansas made sure the Cyclones didn’t have to face much adversity on a soaking wet Saturday in Ames.
David Montgomery ran for a career-high three touchdowns and Iowa State throttled Kansas 45-0 for its second straight win.
Trever Ryen added a 68-yard punt return for a score for the Cyclones (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), who held the Jayhawks to a season-low 106 yards — Iowa State’s least yards allowed since 1963 — and shut out a Big 12 opponent for just the fourth time.
“They’ve been through a lot here. They’re not into everybody patting them on the back,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, whose team went 3-9 last season. “All they’re into is working and they’ve done a really good job in setting the tone.”
Montgomery turned an interception into a 4-yard TD run to open the scoring, and Ryen’s return gave Iowa State a 14-0 lead.
A bad snap on a punt by Kansas (1-5, 0-3) led to Montgomery’s 1-yard TD plunge that pushed the Cyclones ahead 24-0, and Marchie Murdock’s 8-yard TD reception to end the third quarter made it 38-0.
Kansas, which entered play averaging 26.5 points in two Big 12 games, put forth one of the worst offensive performances in school history.
The Jayhawks punted 13 times, were just 2 of 17 on third down and didn’t cross into Iowa State territory until midway through the fourth quarter.
Taylor Martin had 53 yards rushing for Kansas, which was without leading rusher Khalil Herbert (hamstring).
“We had too many errors in special teams...we’ve got to be able to play complementary football,” Kansas coach David Beaty said.
THE TAKEAWAY
Iowa State: The Cyclones are just two wins from bowl eligibility at the season’s midway point, a result nearly every Iowa State fan would’ve taken in August. It’s not as though Iowa State played its best game of the season either. The Cyclones simply took advantage of an inept opponent, something that a lot of Iowa State teams in recent memory might not have been able to do.
Kansas: The Jayhawks started with more turnovers (two) than plays from scrimmage (one) after they muffed a punt and threw a pick — and things actually got worse from there. Kansas, which gained just 40 yards on 30 plays in the first half, looked like a team destined to finish winless in the Big 12. “They controlled the line of scrimmage,” Beaty said.
Iowa State earned five points in last week’s poll. Could the Cyclones crack the Top 25 this week? Probably not — but they’re getting closer.
LANNING WATCH
Iowa State senior two-way player Joel Lanning finished with a team-high 10 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. He also ran the ball eight times for 34 yards.
KEY NUMBERS
Kansas started Peyton Bender at quarterback and he finished 8 of 19 passing for 18 yards. Carter Stanley was 3 of 7 for 26 yards in garbage time. ...Moos’s punts traveled a staggering 495 yards. ...Montgomery rushed for 68 yards and Kyle Kempt went 13 of 20 for 122 yards with a touchdown for Iowa State. ..Iowa State’s Sheldon Croney picked up his first rushing TD, a 10-yarder, to close the scoring. ...Kansas is allowing 55.3 points per game in the Big 12, while the Cyclones have let up just 16 in league games.
UP NEXT
Iowa State plays at Texas Tech next Saturday.
Kansas will face TCU on the road next week. The Jayhawks have lost 46 consecutive games played outside of Lawrence.
