Brent Curvey may need to come up with his own signature touchdown dance.

After returning fumbles for a touchdown in two consecutive games last season, Curvey showed of his pass-catching skills Saturday against Colorado, intercepting and returning a screen pass 66 yards for a touchdown, which sealed the 30-16 Cyclone victory.

“I broke a tackle; that was my dance right there,” Curvey said.

Curvey’s interception was one of three crucial turnovers the ISU defense forced.

“Just outstanding plays,” said coach Dan McCarney. “Just huge plays that turned the momentum. Big-time players make big-time plays when you have to win games like this.”

The Buffaloes had driven into ISU territory trailing by seven and appeared to be going in for the game-tying score when they attempted a screen pass that Curvey read all the way.

“[The Colorado offensive line] released me and I knew something was wrong,” Curvey said. “I went to make a pass-rush move and I was by myself. I dropped back to see what was happening and he threw it right to me.”

Curvey intercepted the pass from Joel Klatt with one hand and raced 66 yards to paydirt, setting off an explosion from the crowd of more than 49,000.

Steve Paris, one of 20 ISU seniors playing their last home game, said Curvey, a junior, had promised the seniors that he would play for them, which led to an emotional celebration after the touchdown.

“Throughout the week, Curvey said he was going to play for the seniors,” Paris said. “Whatever he did was going to be for the seniors. After he scored that touchdown I ran and hugged him and he said, ‘That’s for you,’ so he really meant that.”

Earlier in the game it was another senior, Tim Dobbins, who picked off a pass from Klatt at the 4-yard line, capping an impressive, emotional performance from the linebacker.

Dobbins, whose grandmother passed away earlier in the week, led the Cyclones with 18 tackles in addition to the interception.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him,” Curvey said. “It’s hard for someone to go through a death in the family and come back and play like that.”

Paris got into the act later in the third quarter after Dobbins’ interception when he picked up a Colorado fumble, forced by Dobbins, and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown.

Paris said he knew that he had to get the ball in the end zone and score because the Cyclones did not want the game to go into overtime.

“I saw Dobbins rake it out and I ran as fast as I could,” Paris said. “I knew I couldn’t fall on it – I had to pick it up and get in the end zone.”

McCarney said the defense may have played their best game ever at Iowa State and dedicated the victory to the seniors.

“Our defense was absolutely outstanding,” he said. “I just thought [defensive coordinator] John Skladany and the defensive coaches were as good as we’ve been since we’ve been at Iowa State.

“I’m really happy for the seniors, that’s what this game was for – those 20 seniors.”