With the ISU football team’s 45-43 triple-overtime victory over Toledo now more than a week old, the Cyclones focus has shifted to Saturday’s matchup with the UNLV Rebels.

The triple-overtime thriller raised some concerns – most notably on the defensive side, where the Cyclones allowed 412 yards of total offense, 367 of which were by passing – but coach Dan McCarney said the game experience will do wonders for the team.

“Sixteen players played for the first time in that game,” McCarney said. “Sixteen. They’ve got to improve and I know they will. All those guys will be much better because of the experience they got last Thursday.”

ISU quarterback Bret Meyer said the experience gained from the Toledo game could benefit the new players the same way experiencing similar situations last year helped the returning starters stay calm under fire against the Rockets.

“Experience is definitely huge,” Meyer said. “Last year I think there were times that we panicked. Now that we’ve been there before, we [are] much more relaxed.”

The Rebels (1-0) are coming off a 54-10 trouncing of Idaho State in their season opener, just eight months removed from 2005’s disappointing 2-9 campaign.

However, UNLV has been boosted in 2006 from a talent infusion via a large number of transfers. Starting quarterback Rocky Hinds and cornerback Eric Wright, formerly of USC, have made instant impacts. The defense is also helped out by UCLA transfer Mil’Von James and Oklahoma transfer Tony Cade. The Rebels receiving corps is also boosted from junior college superstar Aaron Straiten.

McCarney said you can see the difference in the transfers already.

“They looked much improved and much, much better than any tape we saw from last year,” McCarney said. “They play hard and with confidence. Their team speed is better and they’re in year two under coach Mike Sanford.”

Hinds will present another challenge for the ISU defense with his running ability from the quarterback position. The Rebels will employ a shotgun spread offense against the Cyclones, which will make it imperative that Iowa State gets more pressure up front against UNLV than it did against Toledo. The Rockets threw the ball 49 times last week, but Iowa State came up with only two sacks.

“We have to get more pressure with our front four,” McCarney said. “We have to do a better job in the trenches. In college football these days, you can’t just blitz all day.”

The Cyclones are much more settled on the offensive side of the ball, as was expected at the beginning of the season. Iowa State moved the ball almost at will against Toledo, earning 393 total yards, including 159 yards rushing.

Stevie Hicks looked healthy and comfortable for the first time since the start of the 2005 season, rushing for 98 yards on 23 carries. The Cyclones even opened up the playbook enough to allow Meyer to display his own running abilities. Meyer rushed for 85 yards and three scores – his first multiple rushing-touchdown effort of his career.

“I’m just trying to be more versatile,” Meyer said. “Last year, I didn’t run the ball very well and this year we worked on some of the little things and I think it paid off.”

However, Meyer certainly isn’t one to take all the credit.

“Some of the credit has to go to the guys up front. They did a good job and we had a great performance [last week],” Meyer said.

The game is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Jack Trice Stadium. The game is not scheduled to be televised.

Other resources from ISD:

Big 12 Break Through(08/21)

Four Cyclone players hurt in preseason play(08/21)

Harris moves to defense(08/21)

More on Cyclone football…(08/21)

Season of opportunit(08/23)y

Football strives to find running back balance(08/24)

Blythe here to stay(08/25)

Harris finds home at safety(08/25)

McCarney chooses next season’s captains(08/28)

Ponca City recruits have shown potential(08/28)

Road to recovery(08/31)

Hicks: healthy and lovin’ it (08/31)

New football pre-game festivities in ’06 (08/31)

Too close for comfort (09/01)

Toledo Takedown (09/01)

ISU defense braces for UNLV air assault (09/06)

Getting the ball to Blythe (09/07)