The ISU football team came away with a 32-21 victory against the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday night, but the win left a bad taste in the Cyclones’ mouths.

The score was knotted 8-8 at the half, with Iowa State (1-0) having been penalized five times for 45 yards, in addition to losing two fumbles to the I-AA Redbirds.

“All of us were reaching for motion sickness bags, and were about to puke,” coach Dan McCarney said of his team’s feeling at halftime. “That’s what I wanted to do standing out there watching … I saw us beating ourselves, it didn’t look like the Iowa State team that we had been coaching, with fumbles, turnovers and penalties.”

Iowa State led 2-0 early when Illinois State punter Ryan Hoffman kicked the ball into the back of teammate Brent Hawkins and it sailed back through the uprights for a safety.

But Illinois State’s Jesse Caesar returned a Stevie Hicks fumble for 69 yards on the Cyclones’ next possession, putting the Redbirds up 8-2 after a successful two-point conversion.

The Cyclones bounced back, though, as Jason Berryman pulled down a pass by Illinois State quarterback Luke Drone for an interception at the 5-yard line. Fullback Ryan Kock plunged the ball in from the 1-yard line three plays later.

Kicker Edgar Arceo’s extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the score tied at eight.

“I just wanted to come out and play and see what I could do, however I could help the team,” Berryman said, who started in his first game in nearly a year.

With first-string kicker Bret Culbertson injured, Iowa State’s special teams struggled. In addition to the blocked extra point, Arceo missed a 25-yard field goal. In the second half, Tony Yelk stepped in for the Cyclones, converting on a 25-yard field goal, as well as all three of his extra point attempts.

“I don’t think we played our best football — I hope we didn’t play our best football,” Yelk said. “Illinois State played a hell of a game — you can’t give them enough credit.”

Iowa State’s offense came alive in the second half, marching down the field on its first three possessions, scoring touchdowns on all three. But every time the Cyclones scored, the Redbirds answered right back.

Illinois State receiver Lauren Robinson caught two long touchdown passes from Drone, one for 56 yards and one for 80 yards, both times beating Iowa State’s DeAndre Jackson down the field.

“I’m very disappointed that we gave up a couple of big touchdowns,” McCarney said. “You need to make people earn it, grind it out, make them beat you a play at a time, not one that takes five or six or seven seconds off the board. That was very disappointing.”

In the end, the Cyclones managed to outlast the Redbirds and ran out the clock to seal the 11-point victory.

Meyer finished 30-of-41 for 314 yards through the air. His completions and attempts were both personal records.

Iowa State running back Stevie Hicks rushed 25 times and logged 90 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown run.

Cyclone receiver Todd Blythe caught five passes for 53 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown strike from Meyer. Austin Flynn caught seven passes for 64 yards in his first game as a wide receiver.

“I got that first catch out of the way and I felt comfortable,” Flynn said. “I did what I was asked.”

The Cyclones will play in-state rival Iowa next Saturday, a team that steamrolled Ball State 56-0 on Saturday. After struggling through much of the game against Illinois State, Blythe said Iowa State will not be favored, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“We love the role of the underdog,” Blythe said. “People don’t expect us to beat Iowa, except for the people in the locker room.”

McCarney said the Cyclones need to build on Saturday’s game in order to compete against the Hawkeyes.

“We’d better be the most improved team in America between now and next Saturday at 2:30,” McCarney said.