Gene Chizik doesn’t know what the difference was, he’s just happy with the results.

The Cyclones’ first-year coach watched his ISU offense finish two red zone appearances in the end zone Saturday against Missouri.

“It was nice to see us finish off some drives down there,” Chizik said. “We’ve obviously been struggling to be able to do that.”

For most of the season, the Cyclones haven’t done it. Entering Saturday’s game against the Tigers, Iowa State had converted just 12 of 25 red zone possessions into touchdowns. Against Missouri, they completed 2 of 3 chances when senior quarterback Bret Meyer ran into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown and completed a 1-yard pass to Marquis Hamilton for another touchdown.

“I think coach [offensive coordinator Robert] McFarland did a real nice job with the red zone plan and trying to get some things down in the red zone that we hadn’t been able to get before,” he said.

Some of the plan included not using senior kicker Bret Culbertson. Culbertson has connected on just 8 of 15 field goal attempts this season and had one blocked in Toledo.

“We didn’t have to kick field goals,” Chizik said. “We were going to go for it on third and fourth down. We’re going to try and score touchdowns.”

Despite their scoring problems throughout the season, sophomore left tackle Doug Dedrick said getting touchdowns is something the Cyclones can do again this weekend against Kansas State.

“Offensively, when we’re clicking on all cylinders, we can do it against anybody in the country,” Dedrick said.

Unknown territory

On Saturday, the Cyclone defense found themselves in a place they’d never been to this season – the end zone. With less than 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter, redshirt freshman defensive back Devin McDowell intercepted a Chase Daniel pass and returned in 25 yards for a touchdown.

“I think it had a big momentum swing for us,” said junior defensive back Chris Brown. “It helped us out tremendously.”

It also brought the Cyclones to within 7 of the Tigers and marked the first time the defense returned an interception for a touchdown since Brent Curvey did so against Colorado on Nov. 12, 2005.

The real deal

Chizik got an up-close look at Missouri on Saturday and had a glowing review of the No. 9 Tigers afterwards.

“Are they a top team then?” Chizik asked. “Well, I think so, from what I saw based off film and just getting down playing with them.”

Missouri, which improved to 7-1 on the season, moved up four spots to the No. 9 position in the BCS standings after its win against the Cyclones.

“I think Missouri is the real deal,” Chizik said.

Fourth-quarter kryptonite

Twice this season, Iowa State has gone into the final quarter with the lead: against Iowa and Toledo. But only once, against the Hawkeyes, have the Cyclones finished off the quarter on top. Chizik said he wants his team to play four quarters. His players agreed.

“I think that’s been pretty much the deal all season,” said sophomore defensive lineman Rashawn Parker. “We’ve just got to put together a full game with all phases – offense, defense and special teams.”

With three games remaining on the Cyclones’ schedule, Chizik said getting to the last quarter with a lead would be an emphasis his coaches preached this week.

“You’d hope that this week would be a week where we could bring it down to the third quarter and have a chance to win,” Chizik said.

Alumni update

One is back to work; the other is getting more.

Former Cyclone linebacker Tyson Smith was signed by the Washington Redskins to their practice squad Tuesday. Smith, who has played with the New York Giants and most recently the San Francisco 49ers, finished his ISU career with 225 tackles.

On Thursday, Houston coach Gary Kubiak announced that former Cyclone quarterback Sage Rosenfels would start for the Texans on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Rosenfels, a 2000 ISU alumnus, has completed 50 of 74 passes this season for 548 yards and six touchdowns this season. The former ISU quarterback is taking over for injured Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub.

“He knows he’s starting, he knows he’s the guy, he knows he’s got to lead this football team in a very difficult environment in Oakland,” Kubiak said in an interview with HoustonTexans.com. “So there’s a lot to gain for Sage Rosenfels and a lot to gain for our team, so I’m expecting him to play well.