‘Do our talking with our pads’: Morgan Scalley proud of Utes’ ‘self-constraint’ in after-the-whistle extracurriculars at Iowa State

· Yahoo Sports

Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers talks with an official at the end of the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) | Charlie Neibergall

Utah players had to keep their composure after the whistle on multiple occasions in Saturday’s win at Iowa State.

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Cyclone players engaged in some extracurricular pushing and shoving after the referee blew the play dead multiple times during the Big 12 opener for both teams.

Ute receiver Braden Pegan, who had 29 yards and a touchdown on two catches and also intercepted Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor on an end-of-the-first half Hail Mary after he was inserted on defense, caught the worst of it.

After one incomplete pass, Cyclone cornerback Jaheim Singletary grabbed Pegan’s head and shoved it to the turf, but the referee didn’t see it and no flag was thrown.

After-the-whistle extracurriculars are sometimes part of football, but Utah players quickly grew frustrated dealing with them after just one personal foul and one roughing the passer penalty was called on Iowa State Saturday.

Like Pegan, running back Wayshawn Parker also was on the wrong end of some of these situations, although he was somewhat expecting it.

Parker transferred from Washington State to Utah after the 2024 season, and new Cyclones head coach Jimmy Rogers was the Cougars’ head coach for the 2025 season, so naturally several WSU players joined him in Ames for this season.

“Personally, I got old teammates on that team, so I already knew what their mindset was — come in and try to take me out, but that’s not going to happen,” Parker said.

“Refs didn’t make a couple calls that I didn’t like. I talked to coach (Morgan) Scalley. He told me to calm down and just play the game, and that’s what I did.”

Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan (7) catches a touchdown pass in front of Iowa State cornerback Seth Johnson (3) during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah's Cyrus Polu (0) runs from Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy (97) during a game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah running back Wayshawn Parker (1) breaks a tackle by Iowa State linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen (7) during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah head coach Morgan Scalley calls for a touchdown during game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) tries to break a tackle by Iowa State linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen (7) during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Iowa State wide receiver Dominic Overby (11) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Utah safety Jackson Bennee (23) and safety Nate Ritchie (6) during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah wide receiver Kyri Shoels (0) reaches for an incomplete pass over Iowa State cornerback David Coffey during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah running back Wayshawn Parker celebrates after scoring a touchdown during game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) throws a pass during game against Utah, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan (7) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Iowa State running back Aiden Flora (21) is tackled by Utah defensive tackle Jireh Moe (90) during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah running back Wayshawn Parker (1) breaks a tackle by Iowa State safety Duhron Goodman (21) during a touchdown run during game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah tight end Noah Bennee (89) is tackled by Iowa State safety Duhron Goodman (21) after catching a pass during the first half of a game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah running back Wayshawn Parker, left, runs from Iowa State cornerback Keyon Washington, right, during a touchdown run in the first half of a game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press Utah head coach Morgan Scalley, left, talks with Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers before an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press

In a few moments on Saturday when Utah’s players could have retaliated, which might have drawn a flag, they stayed composed, thanks in part to Scalley’s coaching.

“Well, it can be very easy to make it a personal battle and to get flags, and I’m really proud that he showed some self-constraint,” Scalley said of Parker.

“At the end of the day, people are going to be physical and we’re no different. We’re physical and you have to leave it up to the refs, but I don’t want to be the one to get the flag. He understands it’s a team game and I’m so proud of him (and) the way those guys handled that.”

While the Utes avoided any personal foul penalties that would have set the team back, Scalley did say they weren’t clean enough overall in comparison to their first three games of the season.

“Nine penalties, I believe, on the night — pass interferences and false start, so we got to be cleaner there,” Scalley said.

“But in terms of the extracurricular stuff, that’s up to the referees and it’s just on us to make sure that we’re not making it a personal battle and to do our talking with our pads.”

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