Another painful night for Cyclone starters

Iowa State’s season-long struggles with injuries continued Saturday, as three starters left during the game.

A look at several players’ injuries after No. 1 Oklahoma’s 53-7 win:

Center Luke Vander Sanden left after a pileup on Stevie Hicks’ 1-yard third-quarter run. ISU head coach Dan McCarney said a magnetic resonance imaging Monday would determine the extent of the knee injury, the most serious injury suffered by the Cyclones Saturday.

“It has nothing to do with the two broken legs he had last year,” McCarney said. Vander Sanden played in only two games last season because of injury.

Defensive tackle Jordan Carstens will likely return against Texas Tech Saturday. He sat out the Oklahoma game after hurting his knee in the fourth quarter against Northern Illinois Sept. 27.

Defensive end Jason Berryman left early in the first quarter, and reserve Korey Smith played most of the game. Berryman will probably play against Texas Tech, McCarney said.

Quarterback Austin Flynn didn’t move for several minutes after being hit after a throw in the fourth quarter.

He eventually jogged off the field, and McCarney said the freshman should be ready for next week.

— Lucas Grundmeier