The Cy-Hawk Trophy is back in Ames.

After a two-year absence, Iowa State won the annual intrastate grudge match with Iowa, returning state bragging rights to the Cyclones.

The Cyclones handled the Hawkeyes with ease, winning 23-3 with the outcome never really in doubt.

“This is unbelievable,” said Indianola native Todd Blythe. “You grow up watching this game, and now to play in it and to win the game is a great feeling.”

Blythe led the Cyclones with five catches for 76 yards, including a 40-yard strike from Bret Meyer that set up the game’s clinching touchdown.

“More than anything this is for the seniors,” said wide receiver Austin Flynn. “I’m excited more than anything for them, trying to get that trophy back in their hands. They deserve it and have put a lot of work into it, and they lead this football team.”

After winning five years in a row, the Cyclones dropped their last two matches with the Hawkeyes, including a 17-10 heartbreaker in Iowa City last season.

Now, it’s Iowa that has to make the long drive home without a win.

A Jack Trice Stadium record 54,290 people watched the game, breaking the previous record set in 2003 against Iowa.

“Our students are unbelievable,” said coach Dan McCarney. “They were on their feet the whole game. I heard the students were out in line at two o’clock in the morning. They are something else. I hope we can have that environment for the rest of the season.”

Iowa State controlled the game from beginning to end, scoring 16 points before Iowa got on the board with its only points of the game.

The Cyclones struck first with a 12-yard pass from Meyer to Flynn, but Tony Yelk’s extra point attempt was no good. Yelk would later hit a field goal, giving Iowa State the 9-0 lead with almost four minutes until halftime.

Not only did Yelk add three points to their deficit, the Hawkeyes also lost their quarterback on the interception that set up the field goal.

After throwing an interception to Steve Paris, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate attempted to make the tackle. Tate led with his head, suffered a concussion and put himself out of commission for the remainder of the game.

“I hope and pray that Drew Tate is OK,” McCarney said. “You never want to see anyone get hurt – our team or their team – especially someone who is such a tremendous competitor. Our thoughts are with him and we hope he’s OK.”

Tate went aggressively after Paris, looking to quickly atone for his mistake.

“That’s competitiveness,” strong safety Nik Moser said. “I remember when I played quarterback in high school, when I threw a pick I wanted to go and try to light the guy up.”

Tate was replaced by Jason Manson, who never found his passing rhythm. He completed just 10 of 31 passes and was intercepted once, a throw returned by cornerback LaMarcus Hicks for a score.

Iowa hit a field goal in the third quarter to cut the Cyclone lead to 13. Iowa State would mount one last scoring drive, with fullback Ryan Kock pounding it in from two yards out with 3:50 to play. The touchdown all but closed the door on any possible Iowa comeback.

The touchdown was Kock’s third of the season.

“In games like this you have to control the line of scrimmage and take care of the ball,” McCarney said. “With the defense we played, our ball control in the second half had a lot to do [with the win].”

Stevie Hicks led Iowa State with 118 yard on the ground, and 79 of those came in the second half.