AMES, Iowa -- It wasn't the smoothest of openers for Iowa State.
But it went down as a relatively comfortable win for the Cyclones -- one they won't look down on after last year's opening debacle against Northern Iowa.
Jacob Park threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns and Iowa State, aided by a pair of interception returns for TDs, beat the FCS Panthers 42-24 in the season opener for both teams Saturday.
David Montgomery ran for 82 yards and two scores for the Cyclones, who scored 21 straight points to hold off the Panthers just a year after losing to Northern Iowa.