http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/ Alexander, IA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/35a12512d16a070fba0815637cfb2d49.html When Iowa State has the ballAusten Arnaud had really separated himself as the team's top quarterback by playing the entire game last Saturday against Kansas Thursday he became the man when fellow sophomore Phillip Bates quit the team Bates hadn't completed a pass since the loss at Iowa Arnaud meanwhile has averaged 216 yards passing over the last three gamesThe running game remains a problem They're getting the ball in the right guy's hands and8212; Alexander Robinson and8212; but are just not able to break much Cyclone tailbacks 32 have just one more rushing attempt than quarterbacks 31 the last two gamesBaylor's defense is not particularly daunting allowing opponents 288 points per game Linebacker Joe Pawelek is first in the Big 12 and fourth nationally with 122 tackles per game so he's obviously one to keep an eye onISU's receivers have become on of the team's strengths behind impressive freshmen Darius Darks and Sedrick Johnson RJ Sumrall also has stepped up as a senior and should be able to continue that against an average Baylor pass defenseAdvantage: Iowa StateWhen Baylor has the ballRunning the ball is where this team has made its living this season ranking second to Oklahoma State which is second nationally with a 2180yard per game average Freshman quarterback Robert Griffin is third in the Big 12 with at 872 yards and tailback Jay Finley is right behind himGriffin is a star in the making He's one of the most dangerous players in the Big 12 boasting Olympiccaliber speed and an accurate arm Griffin has thrown 104 passes without an interceptionIowa State is tied for first nationally with 17 takeaways eight of them being interceptionsThe Cyclones could be without starting linebacker Michael Bibbs leg for the second straight week and safety James Smith was removed late in last week's game with an injury Chizik did not update his status this weekThe Bears don't have a clear No 1 receiver as six players have caught touchdown passes this seasonAdvantage: BaylorSpecial TeamsImprovement continues to show with Iowa State's kicking and return units Freshman kicker Grant Mahoney has been terrific thus far leading the Big 12 with nine field goals His kickoffs also have been goodFreshman Leonard Johnson has given the kickoff team a jolt after a disappointing '07 Johnson ranks fourth in the Big 12 and is 23rd nationally with an average of 274 yards which has put ISU's offense in a good spotBaylor's punt return game has been nonexistent ranking 117th out of 119 Bowl Subdivision teams in that category The Bears are among the nation's best in net punting with an average of 394 yards per attemptAdvantage: Iowa StateCoachingBaylor's Art Briles knows how to coach in the state of Texas Gene Chizik does too though he's not done it for nearly as longBriles was a legendary high school coach in the state took over at the University of Houston in '03 and won six or more games in four of his five seasons there He has some pieces in place at Baylor but winning there as a member of the Big 12 has never been easyIowa State would love to snap a threegame skid and end a cumbersome road losing streak It's 13 games and counting for the Cyclones who haven't won away from Ames since beating Texas AandM in October 2005 That's tied for the secondlongest nationally and the longest by a Bowl Championship Series member schoolAdvantage: BaylorEric Petersen http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/b3dce7e5c5a41b2e3e9ce4e3e373a192.html FENTON A pair of the Cornbelt Conference's strongest imposed their wills on RuthvenAyrshire Thursday in a league double dual as North Sentral Kossuth and West BendMallard earned victories over http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/8b231fcc2e2671d76230ca1cc527249c.html LaVonne Ethel Friesleben Mangels 86 of Spencer and formerly of Hartley passed away Sunday Oct 5 2008 at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Sioux City Funeral services will be held at 10:30 http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/9da2d11289329ea23dd4685fae72de83.html GOOSE LAKE The Northeast Rebels recorded their ninth shutout in the past 17 games to remain undefeated in Iowa Class 1A District 4 play with a 140 homecoming win over North Linn on Friday http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/18b4454c7dad0c36dc5813127a669d69.html MUSCATINE Iowa Slabs of granite and spheres of marble are monuments to the lives of residents buried in Greenwood Cemetery and Muscatines rich history http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/c0612abc5acd0e153432f7b78acd83ef.html AMES and8212; Ben Lamaak said it's the offensive line's faultUp front we're not getting the job done right now said Iowa State's right guard We're really focused on getting back to the basics Now we have to carry that over to the gamesNo no said tailback Alexander Robinson The finger should point at Cyclone ballcarriers for the meager rushing outputWe're not making people miss at all Robinson said It's something we've been working on in practice and we've got to get better at in gamesBoth are right Each group had better step it up with Big 12 Conference play opening next Saturday against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium The Cyclones' rushing average of 1532 yards a game is a bit deceivingTake away a pair of fourthquarter tryingtorunouttheclock runs of 68 yards by fourthstring tailback Jason Harris and 56 yards by quarterback Phillip Bates and ISU ranks 10th and8212; not 7th and8212; among Big 12 schoolsBates is the team's leading rusher with 166 yards and starting quarterback Austen Arnaud ranks third He's scored four rushing touchdowns including a bruising 10yarder last week against UNLV when Arnaud ran through two tacklers and got the ball just over the goal lineIt is the Cyclones' scoring run of the yearI thank Coach McFarland and Coach Chiz for having the confidence to call those plays Arnaud said I had to score That's what we didRobinson who had a fantastic final four games to end the '07 season has just 147 yards and is averaging 34 a carry The sophomore missed ISU's win over Kent State three weeks ago because of a bruised leg and is still feeling some effects of the injuryA little bit but that's no excuse not to have any kind of productivity Robinson said You're never going to play at 100 percent at this level You've just got to playSenior Jason Scales has the secondmost carries 28 but the fewest yards 58JJ Bass emerged in the second half of the overtime loss to the Rebels as an option The senior carried 10 times for 43 yards in his most extended playing time this season Bass was suspended for some of training camp for violating team rules and has been trying to catch up ever sinceHe ran with a physical presence said offensive coordinator Robert McFarland It was good to see If he deserves more playing time that'll happenStarting center Mike Knapp missed the UNLV game because of an appendectomy and was replaced by firsttime starter Alex Alvarez Up to that point the same five had started each game on the offensive line That may change against the Jayhawks though the Cyclones' backups are mostly true and redshirt freshmenWe have more options than just five players We're looking for someone who may give us a better opportunity or go with the guys we've got getting betterWhoever plays ISU's running game needs to kick it into gearWe can't put it all on our quarterbacks and receivers throwing the ball McFarland said It starts up front It's no secret you are not going to run the football if you can't block anyone Right now there's a lot of things we need to get better at http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/b2e4a45bb5f6dc9dda9cc071c499118b.html Compiled by Eula Lee HendricksRegent of Jean Espy Chapter NSDAR http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/iowa/alexander/content/da9d6a83b9997cd0fc4de4ea4f778c3a.html BROOKLYN The LynnvilleSully cross country teams showed continued improvement Monday in a meet at the Brooklyn Country Club