Iowa State Cyclones tight end Stevo Klotz (49) runs for a touchdown around Cincinnati Bearcats’ star Jiquan Sanks 9) during the third quarter of Week 12 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

AMES – Iowa State’s offense looked lost and disorganized in the first half, the offense, but with the help of a revitalized defense, rose in the second half to defeat Cincinnati 34-17.

The Cyclones are now 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play.

Let’s get into it.

The Stevo Klotz game

There’s no doubt who gets the hypothetical match ball in this game – it’s No. 49.

Stevo Klotz, a fifth-year senior at tight end and fullback, gave Iowa State a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, catching a ball wide open after sneaking through defenders.

Later, he would extend a Cyclones drive, running 22 yards down the field on a fake punt.

With a tight start Ben Brahmer still injured, and both Gabe Burkle & Tyler Moore When they got beat up at Arrowhead Stadium last week, the Cyclones needed someone to step up.

Klotz took that assignment and started working on it. He officially finished with 32 yards on three receptions, but had a big block late that helped with a 32 yards Rocco Becht was running when Iowa State tried to shut it down. When they needed it, 49 was there.

‘It’s Stevo,’ coach Matt Campbell said after the game. “He was incredible for us today… To see (Burkle) and Stevo step in and obviously have some critical catches. We’ve had that (fake point) in our back pocket here for the last few weeks and we’ve waited for the right opportunity and just executed on it. What Stevo would tell you is that it’s the other ten guys who execute.

It’s a bit ironic: While Klotz played a huge role in many of the game’s memorable moments, he was also on the receiving end of what was likely the low point for anyone in the stands or at home rooting for the Cyclones.

An ugly first half

Late in the second quarter, while trailing 10–7, Iowa State failed to convert on the first two plays of the drive, then threw a screen to Klotz on 3rd-and-13 that went one yard won.

It was the second of back-to-back three-and-outs, and the offense had left no signs of being able to move the ball.

With two straight losses weighing on the team and some cold weather to add to the frustrations, some cheers rained down from the crowd after the series.

On multiple occasions, Iowa State ran the ball after lining up in 1st-and-15 situations, creating short gains when not stopped at the goal line.

I’ll go into more detail about the game selection in Monday Musings as the game progresses, but as ugly as it was at times, at others it was just as unpredictable.

The unexpected

When’s the last time you remember Iowa State running a fake punt? It’s probably fitting that the Cyclones saved it for the game Tyson Veidt – Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator who spent eight years on the other side of the field with the current staff.

Lots of unexpected things followed that I wanted to complete in quick hit form.

-Iowa State saw the return of junior linebacker Wil McLaughlin, who sat out the first nine games of the season after undergoing back surgery to repair a hernia in August.

“Absolutely not,” McLaughlin said when asked after the game if he thought Veidt expected him to play Saturday. “I had this game circled from day one.”

The in-state linebacker spent the season recovering and rehabbing his injury in hopes of playing against his former coach, and did so, tallying four total tackles in his team’s win.

“I loved it there,” McLaughlin said. “(My back is) good. I feel 100 percent. I was so excited to be back there… Coach Veidt – he is a big part of who I am today, along with Coach Kratch. I think I got the best of both worlds with both coaches.”

His return will be welcomed, especially considering the number of injuries the team has seen at the linebacker spot.

McLaughlin added that he and the staff are also exploring a redshirt year. He would be eligible as long as he only plays in three games this year.

-Backup quarterback Connor Moberly got a little bit of a run and made three appearances in the game during the win.

Each time it wasn’t Moberly who threw the ball, but that could have just been a coincidence.

“I think (Moberly) is a guy that we’re excited about just because he brings a different dynamic,” Campbell said. “I think he can run and throw a little bit – obviously Rocco Becht can do that too. We’re just trying to diversify who we want to be offensively. (Freshman running back) Aiden Flora had some great runs – he’s also a kid who continues to play really good football for us. I just think for us it’s about how we can continue to diversify and continue to open up the offense so that we can be unique in critical moments.”

The freshman had a five-yard rush and was part of a trick play that nearly found a new face on offense for its first touchdown.

-Iowa State may have found ‘a guy’ who could be their third wide receiver in Texas native Frisco Brett Eskildsen.

The true freshman had his first pair of receptions as a Cyclone on Saturday, both in critical situations that resulted in first downs.

“I really feel like this is the story,” Campbell said. “We just keep coming, and they come from all over and they continue to play at the level of excellence that the program is all about. Boys have to continue to step up in critical situations, and they continue to do so.

Eskildsen’s performance on special teams, which likely contributed to him seeing the field at the wide receiver spot this year, even drew comparisons to Darien Porter, a player Campbell calls “elite” in the special teams department.

“Brett has been incredible for us, they all kind of fall on special teams,” Campbell said. Then, boom, he gets a moment, and he takes advantage of it. I’m actually just happy for him because I think he’s going to have an incredible career here. He really played fantastic football. If you guys have been watching, he’s on the punt team with (Porter). They have been absolutely incredible all fall. He’s played for us on kick return and has played for us in our punt block unit… so just really happy for him.

“As far as critical catches go, he’s showing up,” Campbell said. “But then again, that’s the story, right? In every game, win or lose, someone steps up at a crucial moment and plays fantastic football for us.”

That was the story again as the Cyclones earned their eighth win of the year.

Now we move on to Utah.