The ISU football team didn’t look like a 30-point underdog in the first half Saturday.

The Cyclone defense forced early Oklahoma miscues to take a 7-0 lead into the half, and the offense kept the defense fresh, holding the ball for 18:24 in the first half.

The Cyclones converted an Allen Patrick fumble, which was recovered by Rashawn Parker at the 35-yard line. Jason Scales capped off the subsequent six-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run put Iowa State up 7-0 with five minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Cyclones moved the ball well throughout the first half, not going three-and-out once compared to three times the Sooners lost the ball in the first three plays of a series. Iowa State did fail to convert twice inside of the Sooner 20-yard line.

Iowa State had seven-minute, 14-play, 51-yard drive in the second quarter but Bret Culbertson missed a 36-yard field goal wide right. Later in the quarter, Allen Bell intercepted a pass and, after breaking several tackles, returned the ball to the Sooner 18. Jason Scales, however, was thrown for a two-yard loss on fourth-and-1.

The Cyclones out-gained the Sooners in total yardage, 137-109, in the first half, including 74-37 on the ground. Scales carried the ball 17 times for 40 yards, while quarterback Bret Meyer ran for 27 yards on four attempts and was 8 for 11 passing for 63 yards.