Iowa State Gameday: Sooners Wear Out Cyclones 35-20

After two Landry Jones interceptions and two Edwin Arceo field goals to cut the Oklahoma lead to 7-6, momentum was swinging for Iowa State with 1:04 left in the first half. It looked like the Sooners were going to settle with the lead and head into the locker room.

Nov 3, 2012; Ames, IA, USA: Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Durrell Givens (24) runs after catching an interception during the second quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Ryerson-US PRESSWIRE

Not so much. After a couple of running plays by Brennan Clay, Jones threw a 40-yard bomb to Justin Brown and then a 21-yard TD reception by Kenny Stills to extend the lead to 14-6 in 50 seconds.

Oklahoma then came out with an opening drive of 14 plays, finishing with a 20-yard catch by Brown in the endzone. The drive took off 6:08 and the lead was further extended to 21-6.

Despite the Cyclones’ offense looking a shade better on a couple drives, the defense completely wore down in the second half as the Sooners continued to pull away.

Jones finished going 32-45 passing for 405 yards and four touchdowns with his two interceptions. The total offense raked in 589 yards, 34 first downs, and went 9-14 on third down.

On the other side of the ball, Steele Jantz went 20-40 passing for 191 yards and one pick. Most of that production came in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. Again, there were about three drops by ISU receivers in the first half, a similar problem the team had last week against Baylor.

A need for the running game, which looked good when Iowa State scored a touchdown in the second half, was nearly non-existent again with 99 yards on the day. James White and Shontrelle Johnson combined for just 11 carries for 55 yards. Jantz carried it 11 times himself for 21 yards.

The defense again looked bad in the box score, and likely cost the team a chance to win the game late in the first half.

Iowa State falls to 5-4 and 2-4 in the conference. Oklahoma becomes bowl eligible at 6-2 and still is in contention to win the Big 12 with a 4-1 record in the conference.

Brian Spaen is the lead editor for Clones Confidential. Keep up with the latest sports fails and disdain toward the Big Ten by following him on Twitter.

Read his other work on the Oregon Ducks blog, Autzen Zoo, and Lacrosse the Web.