Iowa State’s Konrardy, McDonough Honored by Big 12
Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for the second week in a row and defensive lineman Tamatoa McDonough was selected as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. The Cyclones’ defensive line also earned Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week honors for the second time this season.
Iowa State has collected nine Big 12 weekly awards this season, including Special Teams Player of the Week in Weeks 0, 1 and 2. Konrardy’s selection marks his third career conference weekly honor and his second straight.
Konrardy’s Clutch Performances Continue
Konrardy made a 54-yard game-winning field goal with 1:52 left to give Iowa State a 16-13 victory over Iowa. The kick matched the distance of his game-winner against the Hawkeyes last season at Kinnick Stadium.
The Dubuque, Iowa, native made a 63-yard field goal against South Dakota last week, the longest in the nation this year. He is the only FBS kicker with two makes from 50 yards or more this season and owns two of the 10 longest made field goals nationally (63, 54).
Konrardy is 2-for-2 on kicks from 50-plus yards this season and 4-for-5 in his career. He went 3-for-3 on field goals against Iowa, hitting from 44, 27 and 54 yards, and had two touchbacks on five kickoffs.
McDonough Delivers on Defense
McDonough, a Yale transfer, sacked Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski on consecutive plays after Konrardy’s field goal, helping seal the win. The sacks came on second and third down during Iowa’s final possession with no timeouts remaining.
He finished with five tackles, his most as a Cyclone, and a quarterback hurry.
Defensive Line Shines
The Cyclone defensive line held Iowa to 83 passing yards and 214 total yards. The group combined for three quarterback hurries and two sacks. Domonique Orange had a career-high six tackles while facing Hawkeye center Logan Jones, an honorable mention All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten pick last season. McDonough had five tackles and two sacks. Orange, McDonough and Ikenna Ezeogu each registered a quarterback hurry.
Iowa State’s nine weekly honors mark a strong start to the season for the Cyclones.
ISU’s BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS
Week 0
Marcus Neal Jr. – DPOW
Aiden Flora – STPOW
Dominic Overby – Freshman of the Week
D-Line – Defensive Line of the Week
Week 1
Rocco Becht – OPOW
Kyle Konrardy – STPOW
Week 2
Tamatoa McDonough – DPOW
Kyle Konrardy – STPOW
D-Line – Defensive Line of the Week
SEE ALSO:
OFFENSIVE SPOTLIGHT: Kyle Konrardy shines again, sends Iowa State past Iowa on national TV
DEFENSIVE SPOTLIGHT: Cyclones’ preparation, in-game adjustments key in holding Iowa in check
