Iowa State's J.J. Moses heads toward the end zone for a touchdown on the Cyclones' first play from scrimmage Saturday in Kinnick Stadium. He scored from 58 yards on a reverse. (Gazette file)

IOWA CITY — When you take your first offensive play from scrimmage for a touchdown, that’s obviously a good start.

This happened in the Iowa-Iowa State series in 1998, when J.J. Moses took a reverse and sprinted 58 yards for an early Cyclones lead en route to a 24-14 ISU victory at Kinnick Stadium in 2000.

Even if it’s not a 58-yard reverse for a TD, good starts are gold in this series.

Since the Cyclones broke ended Iowa’s 15-year run of dominance in 1998, the winner of this game has had the lead at the end of the first half in all but three games.

– In perhaps the most memorable game, the Cyclones roared back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to win 36-31. Iowa QB Brad Banks had a key fumble, and ISU QB Seneca Wallace steered the Cyclones home.

– In ’06, the Hawkeyes erased a 14-10 ISU lead with QB Drew Tate leading a second-half charge.

– Last season, Iowa led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. When the scoreboard stopped spinning, it was 44-41 ISU in triple overtime.

Generally, this is the first “big” game of the season for both teams, it being an in-state rivalry. Also, there’s a little bit of fan interest that goes into this, as you know.

That can make things kind of tight under the helmet. So, a strong start can go a long way.

Neither team, by the way, enjoyed that in their openers. The Cyclones fell behind 16-7, while Iowa trailed 10-6 at halftime.

“In the first half, we were dead, barely there,” Iowa defensive end Dominic Alvis said. “Can’t have that [against Iowa State]. Iowa State is looking at our game film. They’re seeing big things that we need to work on, we know that. We can’t have that slow start against Iowa State. We have to come out hungry.”

BEGINNING THE BEGIN

1998 — Result: Iowa State: 27-9 — First quarter: 10-3 ISU — Halftime: 20-3 ISU

1999 — Result: Iowa State 17-10 — First quarter: 14-0 ISU — Halftime: 14-0 ISU

2000 — Result: Iowa State 24-14 – First quarter: 10-7 ISU – Halftime: 17-7 ISU

2001 — Result: Iowa State 17-14 – First quarter: 7-0 ISU – Halftime: 14-0 ISU

2002 — Result: Iowa State 36-31 – First quarter: 7-7 – Halftime: 24-7 Iowa

2003 — Result: Iowa 40-21 – First quarter: 10-7 Iowa – Halftime: 20-7 Iowa

2004 — Result: Iowa 17-10 – First quarter: 7-3 Iowa – Halftime: 14-3 Iowa

2005 — Result: Iowa State 23-3 – First quarter: 6-0 ISU – Halftime: 16-0 ISU

2006 — Result: Iowa 27-17 – First quarter: 7-3 ISU – Halftime: 14-10 ISU

2007 — Result: Iowa State 15-13 – First quarter: 6-0 ISU – Halftime: 12-0 ISU

2008 — Result: Iowa 17-5 – First quarter: 3-0 Iowa – Halftime: 3-0 Iowa

2009 — Result: Iowa 35-3 – First quarter: 7-3 Iowa – Halftime: 14-3 Iowa

2010 — Result: Iowa 35-7 – First quarter: 7-0 Iowa – Halftime: 28-0 Iowa

2011 — Result: Iowa State 44-41 (3 OT) – First quarter: 7-0 Iowa – Halftime: 10-10