bilt, Indiana and LSU last season.Alabama: The Tide didnt look

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa States Joel Lanning never complained as his hold on the starting quarterback job slowly loosened week after week.Instead, Lanning focused on excelling in the run-based package the coaching staff developed for him -- and last week he had arguably the best rushing performance of any quarterback in the country this season. Lanning, a junior, tied the school record with five rushing TDs in Saturdays stunning 66-10 blowout of Texas Tech .Lanning finished with 171 yards on just 17 carries and became the first Cyclones player to rush for five touchdowns since Heisman finalist Troy Davis in 1996.Lanning, the only FBS quarterback with five TDs on the ground in one game in 2016, will try to help the Cyclones (3-8, 2-6 Big 12) close out 2016 with a win when they host 19th-ranked West Virginia (8-2, 5-2) later this week.Hes such a key piece of what we are offensively, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. Hes a guy thats eclectic in his talents...were only starting what we can do with Joel Lanning. The opportunities are endless down the road.When Campbell took over at Iowa State 11 months ago, Lanning appeared to be the one sure thing he had.Lanning took over as the starter midway through last season and put up solid numbers, completing 59 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns, three interceptions and 330 yards rushing. Lanning displayed athleticism and a strong arm in 2015, but he was also plagued by bouts of inaccuracy.Heading into this season, Lanning was the unquestioned starter. But after throwing two ugly picks in the opener and then playing poorly in a 42-3 loss to Iowa, the coaching staff began to use sophomore backup Jacob Park -- a more natural passer -- in selected series.By the end of October, Park had emerged as Iowa States top quarterback. But the coaching staff knew Lanning had too much talent to simply sit on the sidelines and they found ways to use that ability to jumpstart an inconsistent offense.Lanning acknowledged the change wasnt easy to do so.I just tried to be a bigger person and not let those little things affect me. At the end of the day, Im a captain on this team, and I cant let my situation affect the rest of the team. Ive got to stick up for my team. Ive got to lead these guys, Lanning said. Im going to do whatever I can to turn this program around. I came here for a reason.If Lanning and Park can stay healthy and make strides in the offseason, Iowa State could enter 2017 with one of the best quarterback situations in the Big 12.The two have combined for over 2,600 yards passing with 22 TDs and eight interceptions this season, and Lanning (1,247 yards passing) has rushed for over 500 yards with 11 touchdowns.Such a rotation wont work again unless both players have bought in, and Lanning said Monday that he intends to return in 2017 despite knowing that he could likely start elsewhere as a graduate transfer.Joel wants to be great ... and he wants to do it here, Campbell said. The thing I love about Joel Lanning is how much this program means to him, and his ability to lead this team, as hes done even through some rough patches.---More college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org Glenn Hubbard Braves Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Glenn Hubbard Jersey . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. https://www.cheapbraves.com/ . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Grant Dayton Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Braves Jerseys China . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Freshman Jalen Hurts passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start to lead No. 1 Alabama to a 38-10 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday.Hurts likely nailed down the quarterback job with a 23-of-36 passing performance. The Crimson Tide (2-0) started slow and then piled it on with big plays from the defense and receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart.Hurts is the first true freshman quarterback to start at Alabama since Vince Sutton started four games in 1984. He also had two likely touchdowns dropped.Blake Barnett got the nod in the opener against Southern California and completed 2 of 6 passes for 64 yards in this one.Western Kentucky (1-1) was outgained 475-239 in total yards against a defense that has allowed 16 points in the first two games.Ridley had nine catches for 129 yards and Stewart gained 90 yards on five receptions. Both also logged carries.Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White left late in the third quarter. He was 10 of 24 for 135 yards with an interception after racking up 517 yards in the opener against Rice. The Hilltoppers converted a turnover into a touchdown in the final minute.THE TAKEAWAYWestern Kentucky: The winners of 13 consecutive Conference USA games trailed just 10-3 midway through the second quarter.dddddddddddd Receiver Taywan Taylor continued his trend of big games against teams from the Power 5 conferences, with 121 yards on nine catches. He averaged 113 yards against Vanderbilt, Indiana and LSU last season.Alabama: The Tide didnt look spectacular but got the job done with another strong defensive effort and a smattering of big plays. Stewart had a 52-yard catch, Ridley a 51-yarder and Gehrig Dieter a 40-yarder. The defense had four sacks and held the Hilltoppers to 23 rushing yards.POLL IMPLICATIONS:Alabama should comfortably hold onto the No. 1 spot, especially since No. 2 Clemson struggled to put away Troy.PICK SIXSafety Eddie Jacksons 55-yard interception return in the first half gave some breathing room in a 10-3 game and was his third of the past two seasons. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey scored on a pick six against USC.UP NEXTAlabama visits No. 19 Mississippi, which has handed the Tide its only regular-season loss in each of the last two years.Western Kentucky travels to Miami, Ohio.---AP College Football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '