AMES, Ia. – It's October. Go the time for an Iowa State football team that apparently never loses during this bewitching month.

But more on that later.

For the second consecutive season, the Cyclones surprised an opponent who presented a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate – this time at 30-14 against a West Virginia team coming to town as the only unbeaten.

Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma a year ago.

Will Grier and West Virginia rank sixth on Saturday night.

Iowa State's flourishing tradition of upsetting the world of college football was about what the Cyclones had done to make Grier useless.

First-year sensation Brock Purdy only played in his second game. And did you see the magnificent 32-yard touchdown pass that he dubbed on the double cover captured by Deshaunte Jones in the end zone?

Just as the kid played – again – to eclipse Mr. Heisman Candidate, Iowa State's last concern was about Jon Heacock's defense.

Do not mistake yourself. Purdy was sensational. David Montgomery was wonderful after winning Saturday's victory at Oklahoma State. Hakeem Butler … there are no more words to describe what the 6 foot 6 receiver means to the team and to Purdy. Throw the ball in his direction and he catches it or intercepts a pass.

But the former assistant coach, wearing sunglasses on the sidelines, was the real story of Iowa State's sixth win in his last six games in October.

And all this happened with his best player, lineman Ray Lima, because of a concussion a week ago.

Three or four men? Pressure or no pressure? Blitz or play your position?

In the case of West Virginia, the result was scared in the end zone, to such an extent that a maintenance penalty created unsurpassed security.

Will Grier met his match, and then some.

Heacock & Co. kept the offensive flank of West Virginia throughout this match, just as it did during a very important third and second match at the end of the third quarter of the line. 31 meters from Mountaineers. Heacock sent a fourth lineman. Trends have shown that Grier dropped in such situations.

bingo

Defensive success in third position. Fourth below.

The eighth punt of the game Mountaineers, in fact, after totaling 12 kicks in the previous five.

That's how the Heacock defense played well tonight – and played all season.

He had seven sacks with 4 minutes to play, including two from Spencer Benton.

Talk about bringing in heat.

The bagmasters of these cyclones had seven players out of seven different last Saturday at Oklahoma State. It's 14 in two games.

Now, back to this crazy October statistic from the state of Iowa.

Last October, the Iowa State wins were won against Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Tech and the 4th TCU, ranked third. In 2018, October's victories so far were against Oklahoma State and West Virginia, which ranked 21st.

It's not like the state of Iowa played in front of a pile of Big 12 pumpkins; half of the victories were also on the road, so keep all those comments stung.

That night was just the last of the hurricane attacks in October.