Time and time again, the Cyclone football team has proven when they’re short on time, they’re long on playmakers.

Each of Iowa State’s six touchdown drives Saturday took less than three minutes to complete as the Cyclones defeated Troy State, 42-12, in front of 44,896 at Jack Trice Stadium.

With the clock winding down towards halftime and Iowa State holding a slim 14-6 lead, the Cyclones got the ball back.

With 83 yards to cover and just 1:53 to do it, ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace methodically moved the team down the field.

After Jack Whitver caught a pass for a first down, Wallace found Jamaul Montgomery for a 12-yard gain.

The Cyclones were forced to burn a timeout when Wallace was sacked, but he found Lane Danielsen with 52 seconds left.

On the next play, Danielsen got loose and Wallace found him again.

The Trojan defender had gone for the ball and fallen down, enabling Danielsen to fly down the right sideline 54 yards for the score.

Head coach Dan McCarney said Wallace is the key in turning crunch time into prime time.

“It starts with the quarterback,” McCarney said.

“If you’re going to be a quick-strike offense and be able to do it at the end of the half and end of the game . it starts with the guy taking the snap.”

The offense didn’t even have to step on the field on Iowa State’s first and last touchdowns of the game.

Andy Kohler scooped up a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter, and Todd Miller turned a Troy State punt into six quick points early in the fourth quarter.

Quick touchdowns have been the norm for Iowa State.

Against Iowa, the Cyclones (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) had two speedy third-quarter scoring drives to bring them back from a 17-point halftime deficit.

In the game, three of the Cyclones’ four touchdown drives took less than two minutes.

“We thrive on getting down in the two-minute, because we know we can execute it well,” Wallace said.

“When it comes down to it, and we need to do that, we try our best to focus in on that and make sure we execute it.”

Iowa State also showed off its two-minute offense in their season-opener against Florida State.

Behind 24-0, Hiawatha Rutland broke loose for 36-yard score less than a minute after the ISU offense touched the ball.

The Cyclones took less than two minutes to score a touchdown three times against the Seminoles.

Whitver, who had 101 receiving yards against the Trojans, said the ability to score quickly is a product of their preparations during the week.

“We practice the two-minute drill every Wednesday, and it’s just something that we’re confident about,” he said.

“With a guy like Seneca Wallace throwing us the ball, we’re confident that if we get the ball with two minutes left, we can go down and score.”

There’s no question the Cyclones have reason to be confident.

Through the first four games, Iowa State was able to score touchdowns in less than two minutes 11 times.

And that’s not including touchdowns scored on special teams and defense.

“Seneca’s a great quarterback,” receiver Lance Young said.

“If he’s got the guys open, nine times out of 10 he’s going to hit them.”

Wallace, who threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, was humble about his play when the seconds are ticking away.

“I’m just a quarterback,” he said.

“They go out there and make the plays. This is a team thing so I’m just out there making sure we’re in the right place and getting us out of the bad place,” Wallace said.

That quick-strike ability will get a another test when No. 20 Nebraska comes to Ames.

The Huskers, traditionally one of the better defensive teams in the Big 12 Conference, concern McCarney.

“Nebraska’s a tremendous football team, a great program,” McCarney said.

“We just hope this thing can be a matchup instead of a mismatch.”