Iowa State is having its Thanksgiving break all week for students and faculty, but the football team is taking no breaks as it prepares for its last regular season game at Kansas State on Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m.

After the 23-13 win at Baylor this past weekend, Iowa State is sitting at 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12 this season. The regular Monday press conference from coach Matt Campbell happened today along with player interviews afterwards.

Here’s some of the highlights from the mid-afternoon interviews.

Garrett Owens wins Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

In last weekend’s 23-13 win at Baylor, Iowa State’s kicker Garrett Owens scored 11 of the 23 points. He was a perfect 3-for-3 in field goal attempts and a perfect 2-for-2 on extra point attempts. This performance allowed him to win Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.

One of his field goals with 7:01 left in the game on Saturday, was considered a “big play” by Campbell as Owens connected on a 45-yard field goal, his season long, to make it a two-possession game for the Cyclones.

The senior kicker transferred from Oregon State to play his final season in college with the Cyclones. Owens was coming in after Cole Netten spent five seasons in a Iowa State uniform and finished his career with school records in scoring, field goal percentage, extra points and more.

Owens has finished his college career with a dominant season. With only one game left in the regular season, he’s gone 15-for-19 with a 78.9 percent field goal percentage with five of them coming between the 40 to 49-yard field goal zone.

To Owens though, he’s not the only one earning this award.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Owens said. “I want to give a shout out to Quinn Sonntag and Kyle Starcevich. Without them, I’m not able to do my job, so I guess all three of us are players of the week.”

Brian Peavy earns Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Owens wasn’t the only one on the team getting Big 12 honors after the Baylor game as junior cornerback Brian Peavy won Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.

Peavy had a turnover with 14:18 left in the game, but it was at a crucial part of the field. Baylor was in the red zone on the Iowa State’s two-yard line and Peavy stripped the ball out of John Lovett’s hands while tackling him.

After stripping the ball out, he proceeded to grab the ball and recover the fumble. This held Baylor out of the endzone and also brought Iowa State’s offense back on the field.

“It was a great play,” said redshirt senior linebacker Joel Lanning. “It was a game changing moment for us… but it shows the hard work that Brian [Peavy] has been able to do in the offseason and during the season.”

David Montgomery is healthy

Iowa State fans had a small scare towards the end of the Baylor game as sophomore running back David Montgomery was tackled awkwardly.

One of the Baylor’s defenders tackled his legs, while the other tackled his chest area. The two hitting him at the same time allowed Montgomery’s ankle to roll. He needed help getting to the sideline and didn’t put any pressure on his ankle.

After the weekend, Campbell told the media that Montgomery is “good to go” for the game against Kansas State.

Montgomery’s take on the situation was that he received some benefical treatment for the training staff and support from God.

“I feel great actually, really good,” Montgomery said. “I just got to make sure I’m real cautious in practice, but I’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”

Bryce Meeker is making positive steps

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Bryce Meeker had his name show up on the updated depth chart today for the first time since his injury against TCU on Oct. 28.

Campbell told the media after that game that it wasn’t an ACL tear, but it would take a few weeks for recovery. Those few weeks are done and it looks like Meeker is taking steps to get back on the field.

Last weekend against Baylor, Meeker travelled with the team and was an emergency player in case Iowa State needed him to play due to injuries. Meeker didn’t play against the Bears.

Campbell spoke on the injury progress, but due to the fact that Iowa State took the day off yesterday and will start practicing today for the Kansas State game, there’s not a lot of new information regarding Meeker.

“Bryce [Meeker] has done a great job and has worked really hard to get himself back,” Campbell said. “And we need him.”