AMES, Iowa (Ticker) -- It has been decades since Iowa State has
started this fast. It also has been decades since Nebraska
sank this low.
Seneca Wallace ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as
No. 21 Iowa State ended years of frustration against Nebraska
and recorded one of the biggest wins in school history with a
36-14 victory over the 19th-ranked Cornhuskers.
Wallace threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Lane Danielsen in
the second quarter and scored on runs of one and seven yards in
the second half for the Cyclones, who had their way in the Big
12 Conference opener for both schools.
"This win is a great feeling. I am very proud of the team and
Iowa State," coach Dan McCarney said. "We have a lot of work to
do and some room for improvement, but there is nothing that
could take away from this team or the win tonight."
Iowa State improved to 5-1 for the first time since 1980, when
it won its first five games only to lose its next five. But
this Cyclones' team shows no signs of letting up and has emerged
as a legitimate contender in the Big 12 North.
The Cyclones had lost the previous nine meetings in the series,
allowing at least 40 points in eight of those games. But they
toyed with the Cornhuskers, outgaining them, 412 yards to 273.
Adam Benike kicked field goals of 23, 35 and 37 yards as Iowa
State posted its first victory over a ranked team since 1993.
The capacity crowd celebrated by storming the field at the end
of the game.
Nebraska (3-2) was humbled, continuing a sudden and dramatic
decline of a program that ended last season with lopsided losses
to Colorado and Miami.
The Cornhuskers were routed by Penn State two weeks ago and
likely will fall out of the national rankings for the first time
since 1981.
"As a captain of this team, I am embarrassed," Nebraska
defensive end Chris Kelsay said. "We're out there setting all
kinds of records. This is not traditional Nebraska football.
"The effort was there tonight. We simplified our defensive game
plan this week. It's simply a lack of mental responsibility as
an individual."
Nebraska has suffered consecutive regular-season losses for the
first time since 1976.
Wallace emerged as a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate,
completing 19-of-32 passes for 220 yards with two interceptions.
He also carried seven times for 50 yards.
"It's all going to come down to wins," Wallace said of his
Heisman candidacy. "We're going to play this year and put Iowa
State football on the map."
Danielsen caught nine passes for 111 yards and Michael Wagner
gained 107 yards on 19 carries.
"I never thought I'd be on the team that beat Nebraska," Wagner
said. "I'm on an emotional high right now. Maybe I'll feel
something tomorrow."
It was a long day for Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord, who
carried 11 times for eight yards before being benched in favor
of Mike Stuntz. Lord's lone bright spot was a 90-yard touchdown
pass to Ross Pilkington in the second quarter.
Nebraska turned over the ball five times, leading to 17 points
by Iowa State, and was held to a mere 81 yards on the ground.
Dahrran Diedrick managed just 28 yards on eight carries.
Of greater concern for Nebraska coach Frank Solich was a lack of
discipline. The Cornhuskers were penalized 10 times for 75
yards and had a 75-yard kickoff return called back by a holding
penalty.
"We didn't play well or do anything to get it done tonight,"
Solich said. "There was really no point where we got any
momentum. After a loss like this, we'll either split apart or
come together as a team. We have to come together as a team
day-by-day."
A fumble by Josh Davis led to the first score, the 23-yard field
goal by Benike. Then it was Lord's turn to fumble away the
ball and Hiawatha Rutland scored on a one-yard run early in the
second quarter to increase ISU's lead to 10-0.
Nebraska finally scored on the TD pass to Pilkington before
Benike kicked his second field goal and Wallace found Danielsen
on a slant pattern into the end zone to make it 19-7 at
halftime.
Wallace went over on a sneak on fourth down early in the third
quarter to increase the lead to 19 points.
A two-yard TD run by Judd Davies following a blocked punt put
Nebraska back in the game at 26-14, but that was as close as it
got.
An interception by Brandon Brown set up Wallace's second TD run,
increasing the lead to 33-14.
The lone negative for Iowa State was a broken leg suffered by
offensive lineman Luke Vander Sanden.
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