Thompson helps get ground game going

Iowa State freshman running back Brian Thompson helped spark Iowa State’s ground game, which had struggled in recent weeks. Thompson made his presence felt immediately as he entered the game with 11:23 remaining in the first quarter.

Quarterback Seneca Wallace found Thompson on a swing pass that gained 15 yards and almost broke for a touchdown.

“Thompson ran extremely hard,” Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney said. “Our running game made a big difference in the second half.”

The only other game Thompson had rushed the ball in was Iowa State’s 45-3 win over Kansas in the second game of the season.

Gage gets shut down

Iowa State cornerback Atif Austin limited All-Big 12 wide receiver Justin Gage to six catches for 37 yards. Gage, the Big 12’s career leader in receptions and reception yardage, was limited to short receptions and never got down the field the entire game.

“I just limited him to short catches and screen passes, stuff where I could keep him in front of me,” Austin said. “Once they saw I had him locked down they went to the other side of the field.”

The 5-foot-9 Austin gave up seven inches to the 6-foot-4 Gage but Missouri was unable to exploit the advantage.

Special teams struggle

Iowa State was able to survive a blocked punt, missed field goal and a punt return for a touchdown en route to their seventh win of the season.

Missouri cornerback Marcus James returned Tony Yelk’s punt 80 yards to paydirt, which tied the game at 35-35 with a little over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

James eluded at least four would-be Cyclone tacklers as he covered much of the field in his exciting run.

“It was a big play that gave our team a chance to win. It came at a critical time,” James said.

A blocked Tony Yelk punt led to a 45-yard touchdown pass from Brad Smith to Darius Outlaw and let Missouri enjoy a brief lead, 28-27.

Place-kicker Adam Benike missed a 42 yard field goal that would have give Iowa State a 10-point lead with a minute remaining in the third quarter.