By David Carducci
Record-Courier staff writer
AMES, Iowa " Iowa State exacted its revenge for last year's humiliating home loss to Kent State by rolling to an easy 48-28 victory over the Golden Flashes on Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium.
In the win, the Cyclones proved they are a much better team than they were when KSU stole a 23-14 win on their home field to open the 2007 season
The Flashes, meanwhile, fell victim to the same mistakes that has plagued them all the way through a nine-game losing streak dating back to last year " and head coach Doug Martin is sick and tired of it.
"(Iowa State) has made a lot of progress in the last year. ... But the disappointing thing is that we never gave us a chance," said Martin.
In other words, Iowa State may be better in Gene Chizik's second year as the program's coach, but the Cyclones won easily because Kent State made it easy on them.
Special teams continue to be an adventure for the Flashes.
They still can't punt the football, they still can't protect on punts, and they still can't field punts.
True freshman Matt Rinehart had two punts blocked " one in each half " after the linemen charged with protecting him "lost their minds," said Martin.
Another true freshman " Josh Pleasant " fumbled while trying to field a punt at his own 5-yard line late in the third quarter, handing Iowa State an easy touchdown that allowed Iowa State to extend its lead to 38-21.
More important than any other sin, however, was the Flashes' poor attention to detail " a lingering problem that led to four lost fumbles.
"When you get two punts blocked and lose four fumbles, you can't win," said Martin. "You just can't win. We are going to have to identify the guys on this team who will take care of the football and accept coaching ... and we are going to go with those guys."
Translation: "Next week, every job is open," said Martin.
Well, every job with the exception of at least one.
The Flashes seemingly unending string of gaffes spoiled another brilliant effort by star running back Eugene Jarvis.
The KSU junior recorded the 13th 100-yard rushing performance of his career, totaling 139 yards on 24 carries.
Jarvis gave KSU an early lead by breaking two tackles on a 23-yard, first-quarter touchdown saunter.
He also reached the end zond on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Julian Edelman in the second quarter.
Unfortunately, Jarvis' first score marked the last time KSU enjoyed any real momentum in the game.
The first of Iowa State's two blocked punts and a fumble by KSU wide receiver Leneric Muldrow led to three quick touchdowns " a 1-yard run by Jason Scales, a 24-yard touchdown pass from Philip Bates to R.J. Sumrail and a 3-yard touchdown run by J.J. Bass " as the Cyclones led 21-7 after one quarter.
Iowa State led 28-21 at the break before seizing control in the third quarter by taking advantage of another series of KSU blunders.
Another blocked punt, Pleasant's dropped punt, and the first of two fumbles by Edelman turned into 10 giveaway points and a 38-28 lead.
Considering all the careless mistakes, it was a minor miracle Iowa State didn't blow Kent State out by more 30 or 40 points.
All of the gaffes allowed Iowa State to enjoy an average starting field position inside the Kent State 37-yard line on their five third-quarter drives. But thanks to an increasingly gritty defense, the Cyclones only came away with 10 points in the third on 30 yards of offense.
"We beat ourselves," said Jarvis. "We've got to go back to the drawing board."
Actually, KSU's players may benefit from following Jarvis' example.
"He is one of the best running backs in the nation," said Martin. "And the reason is ... he (plays) as if he is responsible for the whole football team. When he holds the football, that is in his mind. That's why he doesn't fumble. He just makes plays."
Edelman made some plays that drew the oohs and ahs of Iowa State's 49,805 fans.
Unfortunately, he also failed to take care of the football.
Both of his fumbles were the result of his holding the ball with just one hand as he scrambled through traffic. The careless play spoiled a 78-yard rushing performance and 171-yard passing night that included the long touchdown pass to Jarvis and another perfectly-thrown 36-yard scoring strike to Shawn Bayes in the fourth quarter.
When Edelman was stripped from behind on a first-down run inside the Iowa State 10-yard line, it essentially sealed the win for the Cyclones. Had KSU managed to punch the ball into the end zone, they would have maintained a breathe of hope, trailing by only six points.
"It was carelessness," said Edelman. "It was not holding the ball with two hands and paying attention to detail. They didn't stop us. We stopped ourselves."