FARGO (AP) - North Dakota State will look to bounce back from a season-opening loss when the Bison travel to Sam Houston State this weekend.

For an indicator of improvement, look no further than the first play of the game. The kickoff.

It's a field position battle the Bison struggled with last year. Last week, Iowa State averaged 30 yards per kickoff return in a 34-17 win that included a 60-yard rally-killing return by David Sims after the Bison pulled within 14-7.

"The guy went through an eye of the needle," NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said. "We're working hard on it this week."

Last year, NDSU gave up an average of 21.7 yards per kickoff return, well above the 16.9 yards it surrendered in 2006 and 19.7 in 2007. The statistical differential corresponds with a 2007 NCAA rule that moved the kickoff spot back 5 yards, from the 35 to the 30.

"The whole aspect changed when they moved it back to the 30," Bohl said. "I think we're better, but we'll find out a lot more this week."

Iowa State turned Sims' long return into a field goal and took a 17-10 lead into halftime, although the Bison had to sweat another Sims kickoff return, this one 34 yards with 39 seconds remaining.

ISU missed a long field goal at the halftime horn.

The Bison tried a high "pooch" kick after pulling within 24-17 in the third quarter. Still, the Cyclones returned it to the 37 and with a 5-yard NDSU offsides penalty (the Bison had three of them on kickoffs), were able to start their drive at the 42.

That's called prime field position and once again, the Cyclones turned it into a field goal and a two-possession lead. Last year, ISU's Leonard Johnson set an NCAA record for most kick return yards in a single game with 319 against Oklahoma State.

"That was a strong point of Iowa State's offense last year and they're really good in that area," Bohl said.

NDSU has been pretty good at it, too, in recent years. The Bison will have ace returner Shamen Washington back this week after he served a one-game suspension.

Washington will team with freshman speedster Mike Sigers as the deep return men.

"That whole field position battle has to change," Bohl said. "We probably lost 100 yards between their coverage and our coverage of kickoffs. We have to flip that around. It can't be a neutral thing."

Bohl said wide receiver Gary Williams will miss up to four weeks with a strained knee and cornerback Josh Gatlin will be out two to three weeks with a sprained ankle.