Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski will need to make major progress heading into Saturday’s 72nd meeting with Iowa State in Jack Trice Stadium. The South Dakota State transfer was only 8-of-15 through the air with 44 yards in a 34-7 win over Albany.

Gronowski on preparing for ISU’s 3-3-5 defense.

Gronowski misfired on some wide open throws, including a potential touchdown to receiver Sam Phillips on the first drive of the game.

Phillips says the offense has been preparing for the crowd noise they will need to contend with.

Rocco Becht will try to become the first Iowa State quarterback to beat Iowa twice since Steele Jantz on Saturday when the 16th ranked Cyclones host the 72nd meeting in the series. Jantz posted wins over Iowa in 2011 and 2012. Becht feels he is a much different quarterback than his first start against Hawkeyes two years ago in Ames.

Becht says while Iowa’s defense is not complicated it is always good and this season is no different.

Becht on what makes the Iowa defense such a challenge.

Iowa’s secondary faces a big challenge heading into Saturday’s game at 16th ranked Iowa State. through two games Cyclone junior quarterback Rocco Becht is completing 69 percent of his throws and has five touchdown passes. Iowa junior corner Deshaun Lee.

Iowa State’s heavy use of tight ends could complicate things.

Lee on the atmosphere in Jack Trice Stadium two years ago.

Last year Becht passed for 272 yards and torched the Hawkeye defense with big plays in a 20-19 ISU win. Iowa sophomore safety Zach Lutmer.

While the Iowa State passing game has been explosive, Lutmer says the Hawkeyes can’t afford to forget about the ground game.

UNI coach Todd Stepsis says the challenge gets much tougher for the Panthers this week with a visit to Wyoming. UNI opened with a 38-14 win over Butler and will take on a Wyoming team that won at Akron 10-0. The Panther defense gave up 336 yards of offense in the win.

Stepsis says for the Panther offense it will be about moving the sticks and staying on the field.

Stepsis says the Panthers need to avoid third and long. The Cowboys led the country last season in third down defense.

Wyoming is looking to improve on last year’s 3-9 record.

Stepsis was pleased with starting quarterback Matthew Shecklman. He passed for 214 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Butler.

Audubon – 9 vs Southwest Valley – 0 

Audubon winners: Briley Belnap (2), Marie Boehm (2), MaKenna Nichols (2), Vivian Jackson (2), Lena Rieman (2), Regan Hoffman (2)

Glenwood – 7 vs Thomas Jefferson – 2

Glenwood winners: Brielle Allmon (2), Brooklyn Oetter (2), Claire Soergel (2), Ady Thiesen (2), Kiana Herron, Averi Newman

Thomas Jefferson winner: Ida Bryen, Kyila Rush

Bishop Heelan Catholic – 6 vs Denison-Schleswig – 3

Heelan winners: Aila Friis (2), Maria Ernesti (2), Kate Kelly (2), Joy Bishwokarmi (2), Kacie Schulte , Jacee Jepsen, Ella Bahnsen 

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

Red Oak – 3 vs Atlantic – 0

Glenwood -3 vs Shenandoah – o 

West Central Activities Conference 

Woodward-Granger – 3 vs ACGC – 0

Van Meter -3 vs Des Moines Christian – 0

Interstate 35 -3 vs Ogden – 2

Panorama – 3 vs Madrid – 0 

Pleasantville – 3 vs West Central Valley – 2

Non-Conference 

AHSTW – 2 vs Griswold – 1

AHSTW – 2 vs Nodaway Valley – 1

Kuemper Catholic – 2 vs Greene County – 1

Kuemper Catholic – 2 vs Ames – 1

Nodaway Valley – 2 vs Griswold – 1

Lourdes Central Catholic – 3 vs Fremont-Mills – 1 

Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational

1. Dallas Center-Grimes – 17 pts

2. Carlisle – 59 pts

3. Van Meter – 91 pts

4. Atlantic – 115 points

5. Indianola – 125 pts

6. ACGC – 164 pts

Individual Results

1 Jack Meggison,  (Dallas Center-Grimes)- 16:40.2

2. Harper Gessman, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 16:48.6

3.  Noah Kerndt, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 17:02.6

4. Kael Streeter, (Carlisle) – 17:19.1

5. Cedar Bandy, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 17:42.0

6 Rylan Heeren, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 17:49.8

7. Cael Ramsey,  (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 18:02.0

8. Felipe Saldana, (Carlisle) – 18:06.7

9. Owen Weiler, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 18:08.4

10 Carson Mandernach, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 18:22.8

Atlantic:

12. Mason Betts – 18:31.7

23. Anthony Akers – 20:18.9

24. Thomas Engler – 20:19.6

27. Kouper Kinnney – 20:52.4

29. D’Art Hansen – 21:22.7

30. Caleb Andersen – 21:25.1

32. John McCurdy – 21:37.0

ACGC:

10. Preston Kent – 18:23.4

37. Stetson Ellis – 25:18.2

38. Adam Brown – 27:10.2

39. Tai Riordan – 27:23.7

40. Dayton Crawley – 28:22.6

41. Bryson Benda – 31:06.5

Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational

1. Dallas Center-Grimes – 24 pts

2. Van Meter – 49 pts

3. Atlantic – 91 points

4. Carlisle – 101 pts

5. Indianola – 104 pts

6. ACGC – 185 pts

Individual Results

1. Laura Streck (Van Meter) – 20:03.9

2. Tenley Heidgerken, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 20:43.2

3.  Addison Dooley, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 21:04.4

4. Piper Messerly (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 21:06.1

5. Lizzy McCann, (Van Meter) – 21:24.1

6. Katrina Williams, (Atlantic) – 21:27.0

7. Lilly Pudenz,  (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 21:45.4

8. Julia Mora, (Dallas Center-Grimes) – 21:45.4

9. Olivia Halfpap, (Van Meter) – 22:18.6

10 Michaela Appel, (Indianola) – 22:49.0

Atlantic:

6. Katrina Williams – 21:27.0

13. Gabrielle Engler – 22:55.0

15. Kaitlyn Hickman – 23:09.4

26. Ximena Mendez Cordero – 24:54.6

31. Bella Brock – 25:25.9

32. Alika Andersen – 25:57.5

34. Ella Brummer – 26:23.3

ACGC:

33. Brooklyn Schafer – 26:06.0

35. Lizzie Lauzon – 26:31.5

38. Elizabeth Drake – 27:49.4

39. Chelsea Kopaska – 29:11.7

40. Kennedy Reinhart – 29:35.8

For the first time since 1978 a ranked Iowa State team will play an unranked Iowa team in the Cy-Hawk series. Off to a 2-0 start, the Cyclones are 16th in the latest AP Poll. ISU coach Matt Campbell is 2-6 against the Hawkeyes but the Cyclones will be looking for two in a row after a 20-19 win in Kinnick Stadium a year ago.

Campbell calls it a unique rivalry because it is always played so early in the season.

The rise of Iowa State under Campbell has put the national spotlight on this series. Since 2019, ESPN Gameday has been to Ames twice for this series and Big Noon Kickoff on FOX will be there this week.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht says the national attention for the series is deserved.

Becht says he has learned a lot about this rivalry since arriving on campus.

Cyclone tight end Gabe Burkle says the level of national respect for this series is growing.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Cy-Hawk Series is a credit to the level of college football played in the state. The Hawkeyes visit the 16th ranked Cyclones on Saturday in the 72nd meeting in the series.

Iowa has won seven of the last nine but Ferentz says it has become a competitive series.

Ferentz says the Cyclones have been impressive early and did a good job handling their trip to Ireland for the opener against Kansas State.

Ferentz is confident quarterback Mark Gronowski will bounce back with a good effort. Gronowski finished only eight of 15 through the air in a 34-7 win over Albany.

Ferentz was asked about the death of former Iowa basketball coach George Raveling. He coached the Hawkeyes from 1983 to 1986 and Ferentz was the offensive line coach at that time. He says Raveling offered to help the football staff with a recruit.