Iowa State, Lanning appear to be a match
Backup QB could grab starting job after strong showing vs. Baylor.
AMES, IOWA — So now we wonder why Joel Lanning wasn’t involved in more than just a handful of plays. We heard he didn’t have a full grasp of the offense, but Saturday he not only grasped that offense, but he probably latched onto the No. 1 quarterback job.
Why that seemingly obvious change took so long, I don’t know. But at least Iowa State fans have something to get excited about after what happened at Baylor on Saturday.
The outcome — a 45-27 Iowa State loss against a second-ranked 7-0 Baylor outfit that had scored points whenever it wanted — wasn’t nearly as bad as many thought it would be.
I watched the game on television after Hurricane Patricia caused cancellation of all flights between Des Moines and Waco. And I was surprised by the way 2-5 Iowa State played during the final 37 or so minutes.
Iowa State didn’t back away from a 35-0 deficit with still almost 7 minutes left until halftime. Some previous teams would have quit. Not these guys. They went on the offensive — with a strong dose of Wally Burnham’s defense, don’t forget.
“When you’re down 35-0, you don’t really think about it,” Lanning said in the postgame interview room. “You just chip away and forget about the score.”
Iowa State’s offense chipped, and the defense chopped Baylor down almost every time it tried to move the ball. The Bears got just 108 second-half yards despite starters Kamari Cotton-Moya and Trent Taylor missing the game due to injuries.
I don’t know if changing from Sam Richardson to Lanning had anything to do with the big defensive showing in the second half, but something happened after the sophomore came into the game.
Lanning completed 12 of 17 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. He didn’t throw a pick, whereas Richardson threw two.
“We’re still fighting and competing,” Lanning said. “It’s not over.”
He guided Iowa State on its only touchdown drive of a 35-7 first half, Joshua Thomas’ 3-yard run.
He led the Cyclones on a touchdown drive on the first possession after halftime, a play-action pass to Quenton Bundrage on third-and-goal.
He was solid in the passing game. His ability to run opened space for tailbacks Mike Warren and Thomas, who combined for 222 yards.
“We’re running the ball great,” Lanning said. “It kept the passing game honest.”
It’s not outrageous to say there’s confidence in this program — despite the 18-point loss. This was the Cyclones football team that fans hoped to see — in the second half, at least.
“You could see on the sidelines — their demeanor was starting to change,” Warren said, not about Iowa State, but this time about the opponent.
Baylor wasn’t going to reach its 63-point scoring average or its 719-yard average of total offense
But let’s be clear: Iowa State lost. The Cyclones have won just two of seven this season. As much positive that came from Saturday’s game, it still wasn’t what the team wanted.
However, there shouldn’t even be a question about who starts at quarterback in the homecoming game Saturday against Texas, winner of its last two outings, at Jack Trice Stadium.
Keep the ball in Lanning’s powerful grasp. Expose him to normal Big 12 competition, for a change, and then the Cyclones are better set for next season — and beyond.
It’s all about the rest of this season and beyond. Suddenly, that doesn’t look as bleak as it could have.