When the 1998 Iowa State football team attempts to win its third consecutive Homecoming on Saturday, they’ll have more than their hands full.

The Cyclones of ’97 won their only regular season game on Homecoming, a 24-17 victory over an undersized and less-than-talented Baylor team.

This year, however, the Cyclones aren’t facing the Bears.

The Missouri Tigers of 1997, with a record of 7-5, were one of the season’s biggest surprises, and their successors may be even better.

Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Corby Jones as quarterback, the Tigers have ample speed and agility to frighten a shell-shocked Cyclone defense.

Last season, Jones rushed for nearly 900 yards and has already managed 254 yards in four contests this season. Possessing 4.5 speed, Jones has the ability to turn the corner and break a game wide open on any given play.

The Cyclones faced a back with similar speed last weekend in Ricky Williams, who stampeded for a record-shattering 350 yards.

What may make Jones more dangerous than Williams is his diversity.

Jones demonstrated last year that he could throw the ball as well as run it. He’s also got a third option: He can hand it off.

Senior tailback Devin West rushed 132 times for 544 yards last season in a backup role to starter Brock Olivo and has already surpassed those numbers in ’98.

So far this year, the lightning-quick tailback has already amassed 706 yards on only 100 carries, an average of over seven yards per rush.

What makes him more frightening to the Cyclones is his 4.4 speed. With two men in the backfield who can break off the big play, Iowa State will have to be doubly prepared.

The Tigers have already collected 1,192 rushing yards in 1998, making theirs the third-best running game in the nation.

The only thing which may play into the Cyclones’ favor is a foot injury sustained by Jones which may sideline him and will certainly slow him down a little.

Another thing that will help the Cyclones on Saturday is the fact that the Tigers are nothing if not predictable.

Their ground game is breathtaking, but the passing game has yet to impress.

Ranked 107th out of 112 Division 1A teams, the Tigers are only averaging 102.8 yards per game through the air, despite the talented arm of Jones.

Senior receiver Kent Layman has been the target of most of the passing game, collecting seven catches for 202 yards and a pair of scores. No other receiver has managed to break the 50-yard mark this season.

Talented senior tight end Eddie Brooks brings only 22 yards into Ames on Saturday and, likely, will not even play. His absence is because of an incident where he walked out of a team meeting and skipped practice to protest his lesser role this season.

The front five for Missouri this season have been more than adequate. The Tigers lost the left side of last year’s line with the departure of guard Mike Morris and tackle Travis Biebel but still have accomplished veterans Rob Riti (center), Todd Neimeyer (tackle) and Craig Heimburger (guard).

The line averages 297 pounds and has performed well in ’98, especially blocking for the run.

On defense, the Tigers are also very talented.

Led by returning starting safeties Caldrinoff Easter and Harold Piersey, the Missouri secondary has been outstanding, giving up only 157.3 yards per game.

Piersey and senior corner Wade Perkins have each already managed two interceptions.

A corps of experienced veterans, including nine returning lettermen, make the backfield Missouri’s defensive strength.

Against the run, the Tigers haven’t been quite as effective but are still playing well.

Compared to last season, when the defense gave up nearly 200 yards per game on the ground, an average of well under 150 yards is more than adequate.

Led up front by senior end Justin Wyatt and junior tackle Jeff Marriott, the Tigers have been able to at least slow most of their opponents’ running games.

At linebacker, Missouri is also extremely talented, featuring senior outside linebacker Marquis Gibson.

Gibson, who was moved to the “bandit” position this season from defensive end, led the 1997 Tigers with six quarterback sacks.

Barry Odom, who works out of the weakside linebacker position, is another able performer, the second-leading tackler on the 1997 roster with 103 stops.

The Tiger special teams are less than impressive so far this year. The kicking and punting games, led by Tim Geiger and Vince Sebo, respectively, have been weak at best. The return teams have also been among the least effective in the nation.

Despite these problems, the Tigers are right where they need to be so far in 1998, which shouldn’t set well with Coach Dan McCarney and his Cyclones.

The Tigers pounded Bowling Green and Kansas in their first two weeks and overcame a close setback at the hands of the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes to defeat Northwestern State last weekend.

Missouri has gained a degree of respectability the last two seasons and will be the toughest Homecoming opponent the Cyclones have faced in recent memory.