Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 7, 1989, Cyclone cornerback Marcus Robertson forced a fumble for a touchback to secure ISU win over Kansas. Robertson’s head-up defensive play helped carry the Cyclones to a 24-20 win over the Jayhawks.
Coach Jim Walden’s Cyclones arrived in Lawrence with a 2-2 record. Iowa State stumbled out of the gate to go down 14-0 before bursting out for three touchdowns in the second quarter. The game featured 72 passes, and Iowa State’s Bret Oberg set a career-high for passing yardage. As the Cyclones held a narrow 24-14 lead late in the third quarter, Kansas marched down the field.
Kansas quarterback Kelly Donohoe hit Jim New on a 71-yard pass. Robertson raced after New and punched out the ball at the 1-yard line. The pigskin skittered through the endzone, avoiding the touchdown and giving the Cyclones possession at the 1-yard line. Runningback Blaise Bryant helped the Cyclones ice the victory while racking up 126 yards on 25 carries for the day.
“He’d (New) been waving the ball around the whole game,” Robertson said when asked about his key play. “When he got past me, I ran him down and purposely tried to knock the ball loose. Luckily, it worked.” #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
