AMES — The defense did its job, the offense did just enough and the fans packed the stands as No. 7 Iowa State opened the season with a 16-10 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.
Breece Hall ran for the only touchdown, Connor Assalley kicked two field goals and newcomer Andrew Mevis added one to trigger a successful start to a season of immense promise before a sellout crowd of 61,500 on a perfect afternoon for football.
Mevis, a graduate transfer from Fordham, kicked a 40-yard field goal to break a 10-10 tie as the first half ended. Assalley’s second field goal, a 21-yarder with 6:18 left, stretched the lead to six points and ISU secured the victory with Datrone Young’s interception of a long Will McElvain pass with 2:05 remaining and a defensive stand in the final minute, Mike Rose tackling receiver Sam Schnee on the final play.
Hall scored on a 2-yard run to give Iowa State 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter. It’s 13th straight game the All-American running back has scored at least one rushing touchdown, the longest active streak in college football and the second-longest in Big 12 history.
Northern Iowa, a traditional FCS power, answered with Matthew Cook’s 41-yard field goal to tie it. The Cyclones then drove 52 yards in 10 plays before stalling and calling on Mevis, who delivered his first points as a Cyclone.
The defense took over from there, pitching a shutout in the second half and holding the Panthers to 263 yards in the game — the sixth straight in which Cyclones have given up fewer than 10 points in the second half.
Isheem Young also had an interception for the Cyclones, making a diving grab to stop a UNI drive into Iowa State territory late in the third quarter.
Iowa State finished with 333 yards, including 197 passing by Brock Purdy, who went 21-of-26 with no interceptions for a solid start to his senior season. He also ran nine times for 58 yards, including a 19-yard scramble that was the longest run of the day by either team.
UNI jumped to an early 7-0 when McElvain hooked up with Quan Hampton on a 52-yard touchdown play. Assalley kicked his first field goal, a 35-yarder, three minutes later.
Cyclones of Note
Hall, who often found his running lanes clogged, ground out 69 hard-earned yards in 23 carries.
Jared Rus and freshman Jaylin Noel record the first receptions of their careers. Rus had one catch for 19 yards to start ISU’s final scoring drive. Noel caught two balls for 3 yards.
Rose led the defense with 11 tackles and two quarterback hurries. O’Rien Vance and Will McDonald IV each had a sack and McDonald had two hurries. The sack gave McDonald 18.5 in his career, moving him into a tie with Shawn Moorhead for second on the Cyclones’ all-time list.
Up Next
The Cyclones take on No. 18 Iowa in a CyHawk matchup at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium on ABC at 3:30 p.m.
