IOWA CITY — Last year, special teams cost Iowa State its chance to stay with Iowa. This year, special teams again played a large role in a Cyclone defeat.

In 2003, Iowa blocked two Cyclone punts in the second half, pulling from Iowa State in the second half. This season, it was missed field goal opportunities.

Cyclone kicker Brian Jansen misfired on three of his four field goal attempts, shorting Iowa State nine points.

Those nine points could have proved to be the difference as the Cyclones fell by a 17-10 final.

“It was a tough situation that everyone has been in,” Jansen said. “God puts us in situations for a reason, and I believe the reason is for me to get better and learn. There’s nothing really else I can do. These are the points in your life where I can say, that’s a turning point.”

The freshman walk-on from Overland Park, Kan., missed kicks of 30, 31 and 46 yards. His lone kick that found its way between the uprights was from 41 yards out. Jansen’s one extra point try was good.

“Everyone else did their job,” Jansen said. “This kind of stuff just happens.”

All three missed kicks came after long, sustained drives.

“When you’re grinding and driving and grinding and fighting and scratching and digging, trying to get yardage, you have to come away with points,” ISU head coach Dan McCarney said. “That was real disappointing when we were unable to do that.”

Jansen talked with special teams coach Terry Allen after the game.

“He told me basically, get better,” Jansen said. “That’s how it is. These situations, you get in them and you use them as a learning experience.”

Jansen is filling in for injured senior Tony Yelk.

The kicker/punter missed his second consecutive game with a pulled muscle.

With Yelk out, Jansen is the team’s only option.

“We don’t have any choices,” McCarney said. “I can’t kick, and the other scholarship kid still has a cast on from surgery. Whenever Tony can kick, he’s our starter, he’s been that since last spring.”

McCarney said Yelk is day-to-day and that he won’t kick until he is 100 percent ready.

Even with their struggles in the kicking game, Iowa State still had a few bright spots on special teams.

Punter Troy Blankenship averaged 38.6 yards per punt, pinning the Hawkeyes inside their own 20-yard line in the second quarter.

Iowa State also excelled on kickoff returns, averaging 40-yard runbacks on its two kick returns, nearly breaking them free for long scores.

After Iowa touchdown in the first quarter, Tyease Thompson broke one for 39 yards, and Ellis Hobbs motored for a 41-yard return after the Hawk’s second score.

The Cyclones also came away with a blocked field goal of their own, stopping a 44-yard attempt off the foot of Iowa kicker Kyle Schlicher.

Defensive lineman Nick Leaders was able to get through Iowa’s offensive line to block the kick.

“I penetrated in and stuck my hands up; that’s what I do every time, and it seems like I never touch the ball,” Leaders said. “Today I just got lucky.”

Leader’s block stopped a nine-play drive that, coupled with Iowa’s touchdown later in the half, could have given the Hawkeyes a 17-3 halftime lead.