QB Meyer cemented as starter

By By Grant Wall

Daily Staff Writer

One game into the season, a starting quarterback has been chosen for the ISU football team. That doesn’t mean, however, his job is safe.

Bret Meyer cemented his starting role with his debut performance against Northern Iowa, but ISU coach Dan McCarney said Austin Flynn will continue seeing time behind center.

“I can’t speak for the rest of the season, but I know this week we plan on playing both quarterbacks and then we’ll see how things go each week,” McCarney said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday.

Both quarterbacks played on Saturday, each throwing a touchdown pass. Meyer was 15-of-24 for 139 yards while Flynn completed 2 of 3 passes for 37 yards.

Flynn was the first of the two to find the end zone, hitting Todd Blythe for a 23-yard score with just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter.

Meyer followed later in the quarter, hitting Jon Davis on a 3-yard strike with 10 seconds remaining.

“Both our quarterbacks did some good things; they both threw for over 60 percent [completion percentage],” McCarney said.

“Bret Meyer played his first Division I football game and threw a touchdown with no interceptions. Anytime you can play a football game and not have a fumble or interception with your starting quarterback playing his first game, you have to be pleased with that.”

Meyer was a touch pass away from having a huge game. He overthrew Blythe downfield four times on balls that easily could have turned into touchdowns.

“[Meyer] misfired on some things from an accuracy standpoint, or he had a chance to have a really big day,” McCarney said.

The win over Northern Iowa also saw five true freshmen get their first experience. Brian Jansen, Tony Johnson, Jason Scales, Tyease Thompson and Collins Eboh all saw action in their first game with the Cyclones.

“We have full plans for the rest of the season that those guys will continue to be involved each week,” McCarney said.

Johnson, Scales and Thompson all carried the ball, with Thompson gaining 40 yards on 11 carries. Scales had seven rushes for 11 yards, and Johnson was the only ISU back to find the end zone, netting 11 yards and a score.

Jansen, a walk-on from Overland Park, Kan., scored the first Cyclone points of the year with a 37-yard field goal and connected on two extra points.

He had one PAT blocked and also missed a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

“I’d like to think that the maturity, the talent and the preparation and performance through the last month has a lot to do with the decision to play those kids, and frankly, we weren’t disappointed with any of the five in the game Saturday,” McCarney said.

“We know they’ll get better each week because of their youth and their ability to improve now that they [have] really started learning how to play on game day.”