Iowa State Rolls Past SEMO 38-10 in Jimmy Rogers' Debut Win
AMES, Iowa — New Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers picked up his first win with the Cyclones on Saturday, as Jaylen Raynor accounted for four touchdowns in a 38-10 season-opening victory over Southeast Missouri State.
Raynor, who transferred from Arkansas State after starting 33 games there, threw for two scores and ran for two more. The Cyclones' defense also made a statement, limiting the Redhawks to just 209 total yards while recording six sacks.
Rogers: 'We're Not Hanging Our Hat on One Win'
Despite the comfortable margin, Rogers made clear his standards go beyond the final score. He was hired in December after Matt Campbell departed for Penn State, and he brought in nearly an entirely new roster, including 81 newcomers.
“I would tell you that I thought we would play better,” Rogers said. “There are certain aspects of the game we have to play better, especially when playing against some of the best teams in the country. You can play an unbelievable game and lose and you can play an awful game and win. I don't judge our performance off the actual score as much as the body of work. There's plenty that needs to get improved. We're not hanging our hat on one win. This is the first of many.”
Raynor Shines in Cyclones Debut
Raynor opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run on Iowa State's second possession. He later connected with tight end Vince Benetti on a 24-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, then found Easton Miller for a 10-yard score in the second as the Cyclones built a 28-7 halftime lead.
Raynor finished 8-of-16 passing for 184 yards and added 32 rushing yards on seven carries. He closed the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Rogers offered a lighthearted assessment of his quarterback's running style: “He's not very fast, but he's somehow very elusive.”
Defense Dominates, Terrell Records Three Sacks
Defensive end Isaac Terrell, who followed Rogers from Washington State, recorded three of Iowa State's six sacks. He became the first Cyclone since Rashawn Parker in 2006 to post multiple sacks in his debut.
The Cyclones held SEMO to just 67 rushing yards, and the Redhawks did not get into positive rushing territory until the second half. Iowa State also forced three takeaways and capitalized on short fields throughout the game.
Aiden Flora added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and kicker Kyle Konrardy, one of the few holdovers from last season, hit a 33-yard field goal in the third.
What's Next for Both Teams
SEMO dropped to 1-1 on the season and lost its 25th straight game against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. The Redhawks are now 1-30 all-time against the FBS. They travel to Southern Illinois next Saturday.
Iowa State (1-0) faces a much stiffer test next week when they travel to Iowa City for the annual Cy-Hawk showdown against the Hawkeyes. The game kicks off next Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.