AMES – Senior day is always a special day of celebration for a group of people that have put in the work and sacrificed for not only themselves, but their teammates, coaches, family and fans.
It’s a group Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has seen go through it all. Some have been a Cyclone for their entire careers, while others have paved their own paths and worked their way up to play for a top program.
That work ethic is something that Campbell has seen bleed into the rest of the players, coaches and staff.
“If you asked our juniors and our sophomores and our freshmen, we have a great coaching staff and I’m beyond grateful for them, but these seniors, the impact on the lives and the impact they’ve made on so many young guys in our football program,” Campbell said.
It’s always an emotional night, but Saturday against No. 24 Kansas State, No. 18 Iowa State will have a bit more to play for.
Not only is it the final home game for the senior class, a win can punch the Cyclones’ ticket to the Big 12 Championship. The stakes are high and Campbell believes his team is ready for the challenge.
That challenge in the game itself begins with Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson. Johnson has thrown for nearly 2,300 yards, along with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
But his major weapon is his legs, like many of the Wildcats’ past quarterbacks.
“His speed, his athleticism, his talent, those are hard,” Campbell said. “We’re going to have to use our 12, 13 opportunities that we’ve had so far to kind of navigate ourselves through the early part of the football game, obviously presents a great challenge and we have a lot of respect for him.”
On the ground, Johnson has 484 yards on 89 carries for an average of 5.4 yards per carry. With an addition of six rushing touchdowns, Johnson possesses a similar archetype to many quarterbacks Iowa State has faced this season.
The rushing defense has been a struggle point for the Cyclones, but having seen many quarterbacks like Johnson in past games could be a benefit.
For defensive back Myles Purchase, the game is what playing college football is all about.
“It’s definitely going to be a really special day,” Purchase said. “Iowa State took me in as a young player. They’ve always believed in me here. It’s such a blessing.”
On Iowa State’s offense, all eyes will be on the senior wide receiver duo of Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. Noel has been a Cyclone since the beginning of his college career, while Higgins came on as a junior and made an immediate impact.
“Really since the day [Higgins] got here, I feel like [Noel] has been an unbelievable teammate,” Campbell said. “I think those two have really bonded. I think their bond has permeated through the football program… If these guys aren’t selfish, if these guys aren’t complaining who gets the football, if these guys are blocking, then maybe I should be doing the same thing.”
Last week against Utah, Higgins hauled in 155 reception yards and surpassed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
“That was great, just a milestone that I wanted to hit,” Higgins said.
It’s a milestone Noel will have the opportunity to do in front of the home crowd.
“[Noel is] a guy that I come in and work with everyday, we try to keep each other humble,” Higgins said. “It would be amazing, and he’s gonna get it for sure.”
Quarterback Rocco Becht has seen the bond the two have first-hand. Helping the duo achieve those milestone numbers is something that he knew they would do when given the opportunity.
“They feed off of each other,” Becht said. “I’m able to go to [Noel] a couple plays and then go right back to [Higgins]. I trust those guys with all my heart when the ball’s up in the air. All I’ve got to do is just give them a shot.”
For Higgins, though only a Cyclone for two seasons, he expressed his gratitude for the program and embraced being a part of it.
“This program has meant a lot to me,” Higgins said. “Having a family atmosphere here was just incredible and a great move and I loved it here.”
Among all of the seniors, Campbell said there are three characteristics that this year’s group possesses: They are good players, have broad shoulders and have a big heart.
“It’s emotional because you’re just so grateful,” Campbell said. “You’re grateful that they stayed, that they believed in you. Then you’re grateful for the men they become because you know the world, no matter where they are going, are going to inherit some really special humans.”
Iowa State and Kansas State square off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday for another installment of Farmageddon. A win can put the Cyclones through to the Big 12 Championship. The game will be nationally televised on FOX.
