Going into last Saturday’s Cy-Hawk rivalry game between Iowa and Iowa State, many ISU fans were on pins and needles.

An uncomfortable feeling sat in the pit of the stomach of Cyclone Nation. Uncertainty was riding high regarding what version of Steele Jantz would show up to Jack Trice Stadium — the flustered mess who was scrambling for his life in the first three quarters of the season-opener or the play-making wonder who led the Cyclones to a comeback win in that same game against Northern Iowa.

Luckily for ISU fans, the latter version showed up for the full 60 minutes.

Four touchdowns, no interceptions, four quarters and three overtimes later, ISU fans stormed the field as the Hawkeye fans in Jack Trice Stadium bit their upper lip as they watched the poorly constructed interim Cy-Hawk trophy float among the wave of ISU fans and players in separate pieces.

The ISU football team saw many things go right in its 44-41 triple-overtime victory over archrival Iowa, as well as some negatives that possibly could have been avoided.

The ISD Sports Editorial Board has assessed how Iowa State fared in its win Saturday, and gave out grades to the offense, defense and special teams.

OFFENSE: A — This grade was a no-brainer after seeing the Cyclone offense struggle like it did in the season-opener against Northern Iowa.

Iowa State was able to execute its “jet tempo” efficiently to fluster the Iowa defense, including its highly touted defensive line.

Steele Jantz made plays. Shontrelle Johnson made plays. James White made a difference, and a big difference at that.

The offensive line was integral to the success of the jet tempo. With left tackle Kelechi Osemele gritting his teeth through a swollen ankle and right guard Hayworth Hicks back in the lineup after sitting out the first game, Jantz had, at many points in the game, all day to complete a pass to Darius Reynolds or Aaron Horne.

With the success of the ISU offensive line, the Iowa defensive line continued to suck wind, thus continuing to become a non-factor.

DEFENSE: B- — Typically the strongest unit on the team, the defense found itself having to adapt to the Iowa offense and its play.

Don’t get us wrong, Iowa has a good offense. Quarterback James Vandenberg passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

However, it was because of the play of ISU cornerback Leonard Johnson on Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt through a majority of the game that messed with the tempo of the Hawkeyes’ offense. Thus, Vandenberg had trouble finding his No. 1 target.

The ISU defense sort of got a break having to only focus on Marcus Coker at running back. Granted, it did give up a game-high 143 yards and two touchdowns to Coker. The positive? It took him 35 carries to put up those numbers, so Coker was absolutely gassed toward the closing minutes of the game.

The Iowa offensive coordinators’ reluctancy to send Coker’s replacement, Jason White, out on the field played in the favor of the Cyclone defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B+ — Aside from a missed field goal by both Grant Mahoney and Zach Guyer, not much went wrong for the Cyclone special teams.

The biggest stat that pops out is the punt return yards. Shontrelle Johnson and Josh Lenz combined for 159 yards in five punt returns, Johnson with a 40-yarder and Lenz a 51-yard return.

Two of Mahoney’s kickoffs also went into the end zone for touchbacks, limiting the Hawkeyes’ chances of springing a big run for better field position, which helped out the defense a lot.

Mahoney’s first field goal attempt, a 54-yarder with the wind to his back, was the second-longest of his career. However, those two missed field goals with the Cyclones only leading by one could have been one of the many things that could have lost the game for Iowa State.

OVERALL: B+ – The Cyclones played well, and got an iconic win at home that could surely build tremendous momentum going forward. If the Cyclones continue to play the way they did against the Hawkeyes, and improve in certain areas, the outlook on the season could get pretty bright.