NOTEBOOK: On ISU's 'sneaky' trick play and Darien Porter's punt blocking prowess – CycloneFanatic.com

Iowa State Cyclones running back Dylan Lee (2) celebrates with tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) after a touchdown against Arkansas State in the fourth quarter of NCAA football Week 4 at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

AMES – Tight End of the State of Iowa Ben BrahmerThe eyes of were lit up when the game began. The Cyclones were already leading 17-0 against Arkansas State late in the first half of Saturday's 52-7 win at Jack Trice Stadium – and in a third-and-one situation, quarterback Rocco Becht faked a sneak run. Brahmer instead slid to the middle of the field and Becht found him for a long, one-handed 24-yard catch that gave his tight end colleague good starting position. Tyler Moore's second career touchdown.

“I knew (this play) was coming at some point,” said Brahmer, who caught three balls for 73 yards as his 20th-ranked team improved its record to 3-0. “So I was pretty excited.”

This trick has been in the playbook for some time, says ISU head coach Matt Campbell said, so if Offensive Coordinator Sarah McLaughlin When he decided to do it, he winced and smiled at the same time.

“When Coach Mouser called that, I had a brief second of pause,” said Campbell, who is now with Daniel McCarney for most wins in program history with 56. “That's why sometimes it's nice to have young guys calling the plays, because the old guys almost get a chill down their spine,” Campbell said of his 33-year-old offensive playmaker. “But it's also great to have great guys making great plays. As I told Coach Mouser, I think that catch was one of the most incredible I've ever seen.”

Mouser didn't have to struggle much for most of Saturday, as the Cyclones managed 127 rushing yards in the first half alone to take a 31-0 halftime lead. ISU's defense forced four turnovers and nearly earned its first shutout win since 2020, but the Red Wolves (2-2) finally managed to score a touchdown with 4:53 left.

“It really doesn’t matter,” said Cyclone Safety Malik Verdonwho caught one of his team's two interceptions on Saturday. “A win is a win. We played well on offense and defense – and on special teams, you can't forget that. But that's not a big deal.”

PORTER'S PAW

Speaking of special teams: ISU's senior cornerback Darien Porter continues to shine in this area. The former track star recorded the fourth blocked punt of his career in the first half, enabling the Cyclones' first touchdown drive of the game.

“To be able to do that, you have to have top-notch fundamentals and attention to detail,” Campbell said of Porter, the nation's active leader in blocked punts. “You can't afford to make a misstep. You have to be precise. You have to be able to be there at exactly the right time — and to be honest, it looked like a perfect snap and a perfect punt. I think the takeoff time was 2.0 (seconds), which is normal, and I think Darien took 1.95 (seconds), which is pretty darn good.”

ETC.

ISU held Arkansas State to 182 yards, the ninth time Jon HeacockThe defense has limited an opponent to less than 200 yards. … Cyclone Senior Receiver Jaylin Noel caught two passes for 49 yards and recorded at least one pass reception in 35 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in school history and the fourth-longest active streak nationally.