Cyclone Defensive Coordinator John Skladany hasn’t always been impressed with the play of his team this season. They’ve been outsized, outmuscled and, many times, just plain outclassed by a number of Big 12 opponents.

In fact, even more unexcusable, they have at times been outhustled and outmotivated on the field.

On Saturday, the Iowa State “D” did not play the kind of football they need to play to win games. Coach Skladany, among the most intense on-the-field and personable off-the-field coaches on the ISU staff, realizes that his troops didn’t get the job done.

For starters, they gave up 37 points, a barrier difficult for any offense to overcome, the Cyclones’ in particular.

They allowed a very average tailback in Marlon Barnes to run roughshod over them for a career-high 237 yards and two touchdowns.

They were held off-balance by a largely predictable Colorado offense that burned them repeatedly with long gains.

Overall, the ISU defense didn’t come through.

But for 20 minutes, no group of gridiron warriors better embodied what Iowa State football wants and needs to become.

As the defense took the field for their first series of the second half, they were already down 23-0, having given up a disheartening 313 first half yards.

They were relieving an inept Cyclone offense that had again stumbled through its possession, managing only 15 yards (all in penalties) in six plays.

They had seen their play callers all but give up on the contest, handing off to 254-pound fullback Joe Parmentier on third-and-nine.

They had nothing but pride to play for, but that’s exactly what they did.

They played.

Cyclone linebacker Ab Turner made an athletic play to break up Mike Moschetti’s first down pass, but the Buffaloes managed a first down out to their own 27-yard line.

After a four-yard pickup by Barnes, Moschetti fumbled the snap from center, but quickly recovered and retreated into the backfield, looking for room to run.

The Colorado line held well and only senior Chin Achebe broke beyond the line of scrimmage.

The incredibly elusive Moschetti had an angle on the much-slower defensive end and looked like he might escape into daylight.

But Achebe had other plans, diving at the agile quarterback and dropping him for a loss of 22 yards.

The Cyclones held and forced Colorado to punt away their first possession of the second half.

Colorado: 6 plays, -4 yards, 3 minutes, 28 seconds

The offense, apparently inspired for the first time during the game, put together a positive drive that was only quelled by an interception in the end zone.

The defense again took the field, still down 23 and still frustrated by an offense that couldn’t get the job done.

They continued to play hard, though, with safety Dustin Avey containing Barnes on the first two carries, which still netted a Colorado first down.

On first-and-10 at the CU 31, though, lineman Ryan Harklau broke into the Buffalo backfield and brought down Barnes for a loss, forcing the Buffaloes to go to the air.

After a deep incompletion and a Dawan Anderson stop on a six-yard pass into the flat, Colorado again had to punt the ball away.

Colorado: 5 plays, 14 yards, 2 minutes, 16 seconds

The Cyclone offense then put together their first scoring drive of the game, marching 74 yards for a touchdown. With over 15 minutes remaining, ISU was suddenly back in the game.

If the defense could only hold on a couple more possessions, the offense would have the opportunity to mount their comeback.

Jason Parrott held Barnes to four yards on first down and the secondary tightened up on second and third down, turning away both Buffalo passes and forcing another quick punt.

Colorado: 3 plays, 4 yards, 0 minutes, 36 seconds

The offense marched quickly into enemy territory, but the drive stalled out on the CU 21-yard line and the defense was called upon again.

They were still playing for pride, but with a chance to win the game, the pressure was on and they responded once again.

Avey and Eric Weiford stuffed Barnes and Damion Barton on the first two carries, holding the pair to four combined yards.

The Buffaloes then tried a reverse to Marcus Stiggers, a play that netted 52 yards in the first quarter. Reggie Hayward was ready, however, and dropped the speedy wideout in the backfield for a loss of three yards.

The Buffaloes again had to punt.

Colorado: 3 plays, 1 yard, 2 minutes, 16 seconds

The Cyclone offense would never put together any sort of scoring threat and the Buffaloes would eventually take advantage of this lack of production.

But when it mattered most – when the game was still on the line – the ISU defenders kept their chins up and shut down their opposition. Ultimately, they did all they could to give their team a shot at victory.

Over the span of four important series, the Cyclone “D” allowed only 8:36 to drain off the clock and consistently left their offense in great field position. They held the Buffaloes to a measly 15 yards in 17 total plays.

All isn’t well with the ISU defense and certainly not with the football team, in general, but fans caught a glimpse of what this program could someday become.

If this team and this coaching staff and this school are truly destined to turn around the fortunes of Cyclone football, it will begin with 20 minutes in Boulder.

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Ron DeMarse is a junior in liberal studies from Muscatine.