Peterson's thoughts off Iowa State's 30-9 victory over UNI: high fives and back slaps

AMES – The jubilation on Iowa State’s sidelines as the scoreboard clock struck zeros after the first half was something to behold. Players were jumping up and down. High fives. Back slaps.

All for a 56-yard field goal?

Absolutely, considering this team had trouble making them from any distance during a 2022 season that Saturday rightfully seemed forgotten.

After the tumultuous off-season this program went through, coach Matt Campbell’s guys had every right to celebrate the 30-9 victory against Northern Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium.

A pick six. Special teams success. Freshmen playing significantly.

More: Iowa State holds 30-9 lead after UNI's first touchdown of the game: Live updates

Those are just a few of many thoughts that ran through my head while watching one of the best-played season-opening games since Campbell became the head coach. Here are a few more.

Special teams were (mostly) very good

Granted, it’s just the first game, but the Cyclones’ oft-criticized special teams were nearly flawless Saturday.

Chase Contrarez boomed a 56-yard field goal, but he was just a co-star on this day. Punter Tyler Perkins, whose 70-yard boomer in the first quarter was downed at the 2-yard line, deserves a headline, too. Iowa State’s defense forced a punt that Jaylin Noel returned 39 yards. That drive ended with Rocco Becht’s quarterback sneak into the end zone.

So, to recap:

The first 70-yard Cyclones punt since Kirby Van Der Kamp was downed at the 2 by Darien Porter in 2010.

Keegan Shackford’s first three kickoffs went into the end zone.

Myles Purchase had a 55-yard late-game kickoff return.

Talk about a special teams statement.

OK, there was a flaw. Timing problems with a second-quarter long snap resulted in a PAT not being kicked. Stuff happens, right?

It’s already better than last season, and it’s just the first possession of the game.

Safety Jeremiah Cooper returned a Theo Day interception 58 yards for a touchdown. Contreraz’s PAT was good.

Pick six.

Made kick.

In Jordan Langs’ first game as Iowa State’s special teams’ coach.

That's called setting a high bar.

I liked that Campbell played a lot of players in the 90-degree heat.

The coach said that would be the plan – and he didn’t disappoint.

Look no further than linebacker to validate this point. Seven played in the game’s first 23 minutes. True freshman Jack Sadowsky started, along with veteran Gerry Vaughn and Will McLaughlin. Also playing in the first half were Carston Marshall, Carson Willich, Alec Cook and Caleb Bacon.

There were times we didn't see that many linebackers during entire games last season.

More: Iowa State football's youth movement at linebacker headlined by Jack Sadowsky, Carson Willich

We were told to keep an eye on running backs, where Campbell said there’d been so much competition at the position that he just might play all five.

Well, three played in the first half – starter Cartevious Norton, Eli Sanders and true freshman Abu Sama.

Quarterback? Both Rocco Becht and true freshman J.J. Kohl played before halftime.

Depending on the opponent and the score, mixing and matching personnel groups looks to be a real thing in this season of transition – as the Cyclones strive to return to the postseason while also establishing a winning mindset among a locker room full of talented and highly recruited underclassmen.

"We have really good players,” Campbell said last week. “The growth potential daily and weekly is phenomenal.”

For sure, Sama was a real deal

Starring for eventual Class 5A state champion Southeast Polk at this time last season, Sama was the third running back to take a handoff Saturday.

His third carry was a 26-yarder around the left side, during which he shook off numerous tackles before being run out of bounds.

Too many good running backs and not enough carries to go around?

Let’s not get carried away. Norton will start in Cy-Hawk next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium. Eli Sanders will be No. 2, and Sama No. 3.

Are tight ends going to be a thing again?

Five of Iowa State’s nine first-half completions went to two players at the position – Easton Dean and Tyler Moore. True freshman tight end Benjamin Brahmer caught a third-quarter touchdown pass.

I don’t know if this was a sign that tight ends will start being used more, but Saturday’s message was clear:

Campbell is going to give players at this position every opportunity to be a significant part of the offense.

It’s too soon to emphatically proclaim that the offensive line has improved.

Let’s wait a while before doing that, but Saturday was a step in that direction. James Neal and Darrell Simmons started to the left of center Jim Bonifas. Jarrod Hufford and Tyler Miller started to his right.

They played well, as did their multiple replacements on this very hot day. Let’s see how they play against good defenses before making any judgment on just how improved this position will be.

Random thoughts ...

• Iowa State kept this one pretty vanilla.

• I wasn't impressed with UNI quarterback Theo Day, although Iowa State's secondary and intense quarterback pressure had a lot to do with that.

• Whoever called Iowa State's fourth-and-goal touchdown in the first half - masterful. The play started with Becht under center. Yes, under center.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Randy Peterson's takeaways from Iowa State's win over Northern Iowa