Iowa State defensive tackle JR Singleton says the Cyclones are enjoying the national attention they are receiving but have kept their focus on Saturday’s game against Baylor. The 16th ranked Cyclones are 4-0 for the first time since 2000 and part of the early playoff projections heading into a prime time “white out” in Jack Trice Stadium.

The Cyclone defense ranks fourth in the country by giving up just over seven points per game and Singleton says the Cyclone run defense will be tested by Baylor.

Singleton says the ISU defense is playing with a lot of confidence right now.

The Cyclones have been winning the turnover battle. They are a plus-seven through four games.

Free safety Jeremiah Cooper says the Cyclones are keeping all the national recognition in perspective.

Iowa State’s secondary has been dominant this season and has already intercepted seven passes.

Cooper says the Cyclone defense will be challenged by Baylor.

The Exira-EHK Volleyball Team is off to their best start in recent memory. The Spartans are 9-3 and hold the second-best winning percentage in the Rolling Valley Conference behind Coon Rapids Bayard. After their thrilling win over Boyer Valley last night, Exira-EHK has now won four straight.  As a team, they lead the conference in kill efficiency and rank in the top five in blocks. Head Coach Derek Reischauer says he appreciates his team’s speed and ability to play everywhere on the court.

The Spartans have found their success this year with a young roster. Among the 13 listed players, Mayne Jorgensen is the only senior who sees consistent varsity time. Defensively, she ranks second on the team in digs and third in service efficiency. In his third year at Exira-EHK coach Reischauer says she’s been a solid leader for the team.

The cousin duo of Jaelynn and Taryn Petersen are leading the way statistically for the Spartans. Jaelynn, a junior, ranks in the top 10 in kills and is 4th in the conference in kill efficiency while sophomore Taryn leads the conference in kill efficiency while leading the team defensively in digs. Reischauer praised their athleticism while crediting much of their success to it.

The Spartans are off to their best start since 2012 and are looking for their first winning record in several years. When asked about his team’s aspirations for the remainder of the year, Reischauer had only one thing in mind.

Exira-EHK will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they take on Glidden-Ralston at home. The contest is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Hawkeye Ten Conference

• 3A #15 Clarinda 3, St. Albert 1
• Creston 3, Harlan 2
• 4A #9 Glenwood 3, 3A #7 Kuemper 1
• 2A #15 Shenandoah 3, Red Oak 1

Corner Conference

• A #12 Sidney 3, Griswold 0
• 1A #11 East Mills 3, Bedford 0
• Fremont Mills Triangular (Hamburg, Stanton)
• 1A #10 Fremont Mills 3, Hamburg 0
• 1A #13 Stanton 3, 1A #10 Fremont Mills 0

Pride of Iowa Conference

• Nodaway Valley Triangular (Southeast Warren, Mount Ayr)
• Southeast Warren 2, Nodaway Valley 0
• Southeast Warren 2, Mount Ayr 1
• Martensdale St Mary’s Triangular (Southwest Valley, Wayne)
• Southwest Valley 2, Martensdale St. Mary’s 0
• Southwest Valley 2, Wayne 0
• Wayne 2, Martensdale St. Mary’s 0
• East Union Triangular (Lenox, Central Decatur)
• Central Decatur 2, East Union 0
• Lenox 2, Central Decatur 0
• Lenox 2, East Union 0

Rolling Valley Conference

• Exira EHK 3, Boyer Valley 0
• CAM 3 Paton-Churdan 0
• Woodbine 3, Coon Rapids Bayard 2
• Glidden Ralston 3, Ar-We-Va 0

West Central Conference

• AC/GC 3, I-35 0
• Panorama 3, Madrid 0
• Earlham 3, West Central Valley 2
• Van Meter 3, Pleasantville 0

Western Iowa Conference

• Treynor 3, Audubon 0
• 1A #3 Riverside 3, Missouri Valley 0
• Tri-Center 3, Logan-Magnolia 0
• Underwood 3, AHSTW 0

The CAM football team is in prime position for a postseason run with three games remaining in the regular season. CAM is on a four-game winning streak with wins over Griswold, East Mills, Coon-Rapids Bayard, and, most recently, their rivals in Exira-EHK. In that stretch, they have outscored opponents 218-74. Although they dropped their opening game of the season to Audubon, head coach Barry Bower’s message has remained the same ever since: improve every game.

Amid a winning streak, it can be easy for a group to get complacent. However, the Cougars are looking to be ever-diligent and are focusing on the details of the game. Bower says the team’s resiliency and ability to learn is something he appreciates about this CAM team.

Leading the way for the CAM this season is their senior quarterback Makade Paulsen. Paulsen ranks in the top three in 4 statistical categories, including total touchdowns and rushing yards. Through 4 games, Paulsen has racked up 1,024 offensive yards and 21 total touchdowns.  Bower not only appreciates but also credits the way Paulsen carries himself as the reason for his success on the field

CAM is now the 8th ranked team in the Iowa 8-player class according to Radio Iowa’s most recent poll. However, Bower and the Cougars aren’t on the postseason possibilities. They are taking it one step at a time.

The Cougars will look to continue their mindset of improvement and attention to detail in their final three games. They will be on the road for the next two, facing 2-3 Sidney this week before heading out to face 4-1 Fremont Mills. They will finish out the season at home against Stanton on the 18th.

MONARCH INVITE

1. Harlan (41 points) — 1. Lindsey Sonderman (18:47.06), 2. Ashlyn Rau (19:34.64), 11. Brylee Schechinger (21:09.64), 12. Allie Anderson (21:14.61), 15. Aspen Bieker (21:38.40)

3. Denison-Schleswig (130 points) — 5. Lola Mendlik (20:11.17), 6. Alexa Tremblay (20:17.44)

4. Logan-Magnolia (141 points) — 7. Madison Sporrer (20:18.38)

6. Tri-Center (177 points) — 13. Quincey Schneckloth (21:22.60)

7. Boyer Valley (179 points) — 8. Hailey Cue (20:18.64)

8. Abraham Lincoln (192 points)

9. Kuemper Catholic (195 points)

10. Woodbine (200 points) — 9. Adyson Lapel (20:37.83), 10. Reagan Cogdill (20:51.10)

NTS. Missouri Valley

CLARKE INVITE

1. Van Meter (26 points)

2. Martensdale-St. Marys (58 points) — 3. Karson Oberender (20:39.50), 4. Maclaine German (20:48.00), 15. Ellie Baker (23:22.20)

3. Creston (64 points) — 8. Cora Smith (21:52.20), 9. Payton Davis (21:53.00), 10. Reese Strunk (22:18.60)

NTS. Southeast Warren — 7. Kaleigh Harvey (21:45.20)

NTS. Mount Ayr

NTS. Lenox

NTS. East Union

DENISON-SCHLESWIG MEET

1. Woodbine (60 points) — 1. Gunner Wagner (16:02.21), 8. Aiden Summerfield (17:23.97), 14. Evan Estrada (17:50.08)

3. Tri-Center (94 points) — 5. Haven Weers (17:14.65), 12. Brennan Boden (17:36.13), 13. Evan Wham (17:47.49) 

4. Kuemper Catholic (99 points) — 4. Dayton Wiederin (17:06.63), 9. Fletch Badding (17:29.03)

5. Denison-Schleswig (135 points) — 6. Kevin Sanchez (17:14.74) 

6. Missouri Valley (169 points)

7. Abraham Lincoln (180 points)

10. Harlan (215 points)

11. Boyer Valley (245 points) 

NTS. Logan-Magnolia — 10. Brodie Davis (17:34.64) 

CLARKE MEET

5. Martensdale-St. Marys (131 points) — 11. Isaiah Wheeldon (18:57.60)

7. Creston (182 points)

8. Southwest Valley (213 points) 

9. Southeast Warren (224 points) 

Ohio State coach Ryan Day says Iowa represents a step up in competition for the third ranked Buckeyes. Ohio State is 4-0 and opened Big Ten play with a 38-7 win at Michigan State.

Day says Iowa will offer their biggest physical challenge to this point.

The Iowa defense is giving up a little more than 62 yards on the ground per game and Day says it starts up front.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeyes will need a big effort at Ohio State just to have a chance. The third ranked Buckeyes are a better than three touchdown favorite, and two years ago pummeled the Hawkeyes 54-10 in Columbus.

The Iowa defense will have its hands full against a talented Ohio State offense that is averaging nearly 49 points per game.

Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard directs the Buckeye offense.

A Ferentz coached Iowa team has never won at Ohio State and the Hawkeyes last victory in Columbus was back in 1991.

The spotlight is getting brighter on Iowa State each week. The 16th ranked Cyclones are 4-0 for the first time since 2000 and appearing in the early playoff projections. They host Baylor under the lights and with a win will be 5-0 for the first time since 1980.

That’s ISU coach Matt Campbell who says the Cyclones can’t change what got them to this point.

Special seasons are about consistency and Campbell says there is a long ways to go.

Campbell says the Cyclones are still working to build an identity but it is more about playing the game the right way.

Iowa State’s defense ranks fourth in the country in giving up just over seven points per game and Campbell says the leadership of safety Beau Freyler and defensive lineman JR Singleton has been a big part of their success.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior guard Sydney Affolter underwent a surgical scope of her knee at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center. Affolter will be ready to return to action in early November.

“This is an unfortunate setback for Sydney, but she will work hard during her rehab and is expected to make a full recovery,” said P. Sue Beckwith, MD, head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen. “She has the support of her teammates and coaches, and we look forward to having a healthy Sydney back when she is given clearance from our medical staff.”

Last season, Affolter stepped in for Molly Davis when she missed time during Iowa’s second consecutive National Championship run. She was named to the Big Ten’s All-Tournament Team and Albany 2 All-Regional Team. Affolter averaged 8.4 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2023-24. She closed the season playing some her best basketball as a Hawkeye, notching a double-double and reaching double figures in seven out of the last nine games.