Texas A&M had momentum early in its favor, scoring on its first series of the game and never looking back as it beat the Cyclones 34-3 on Saturday, spoiling Iowa State’s Homecoming celebration.

Quarterback Reggie McNeal hit L’Tydrick Riley for a score on the Aggies’ first possession, and midway through the first quarter, Aggie tight end Joey Thomas tacked on to Texas A&M’s lead with a 15-yard touchdown pass from McNeal, making the score 13-0.

A&M head coach Dennis Franchione said the Aggies’ fast start set the tone for the rest of the game.

“I thought our great start was pivotal. It’s been a while since we won a road game,” Franchione said. “We had a great first half and we did what we needed to do.”

The Cyclones took the ball down to the 10-yard line late in the first quarter, but settled for a 27-yard field goal from Brian Jansen after the Aggie defense derailed the ISU offense on six tries within the red zone.

“It seems like there is a big door that we’ve got to knock down in the red zone right now, and we’re not doing that,” ISU head coach Dan McCarney said.

Early in the second quarter, McNeal kept it on an option play and ran the ball in 2 yards for a 20-3 advantage after a 96-yard drive. The Cyclone defense had the Aggie offense stalled, but on second and 21, A&M got 23 yards and a first down on a pass from McNeal to Jason Carter.

“We almost had [McNeal] for a safety down there,” McCarney said. “It was a brilliant play by Reggie to get out of there … You talk about giving your team a shot of confidence from that standpoint. The game sure isn’t over, but it’s great execution on their part.”

With under a minute left in the first half, quarterback Bret Meyer was shaken up and replaced by Austin Flynn. Meyer, who got “dinged,” didn’t return to action for the Cyclones.

“Bret could have gone back out there in the fourth quarter, but it’s a decision I made to keep him out,” McCarney said.

Cyclone receiver Todd Blythe also got “dinged” in the first half, but was able to return to action in the third. The Aggie defense held Blythe to one reception for five yards.

“They did a pretty good job of isolating [Blythe],” Meyer said. “They had some double coverages over the top; we have just got to find more ways to get him chances to get the ball, because we know what he can do when he gets a chance.”

A&M defensive back Jaxson Appel said the Aggies defensive plan was to take Blythe out of the game.

“We game planned him well and shut him down, like we did [Kansas State’s Darren] Sproles,” Appel said.

McNeal hurt his leg on the Aggies’ second series of the second half and was replaced by Ty Branyon, who took charge of the A&M offense and helped tack on another touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Jon Davis was the Cyclones’ leading receiver, with 86 yards on five catches.

After the game, Davis said the Cyclones are still optimistic for their chances the rest of the season.

“We’re feeling that we’re really close; it might not look like it, but we know that we can play with all these teams; we just got to be able to put it all together,” Davis said. “We’re doing certain aspects good, then other aspects we’re starting to slack off on, so when we get it all together at one time, we’re going to be all right.”