If nothing else, the spring football game offers the chance to play one uninhibited, fully-padded game in the off-season before returning to bench presses and conditioning drills.

If nothing else, it is a chance to flaunt individual athleticism.

Because of this, the final score – 57-40, Cardinal team – is less important than the stat sheet – Seneca Wallace, 15-20 passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney believes there to be “more playmakers this year than we’ve had in the past.”

The foremost of which is quarterback Seneca Wallace, whom the Cyclones are touting as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Saturday, he didn’t disappoint.

It took his Cardinal team 12 minutes and 16 seconds to overcome the White team’s 20-point lead that started the game.

And his 203 yards and two touchdowns were accomplished by the second Cardinal possession of the third quarter – at which point backup Cris Love took over.

Love, statistically, was better than Wallace, throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 11-16 passing.

“Cris Love did a lot of good things,” McCarney said. “That’s what he’s done all spring.”

McCarney’s praise was equal for Wallace.

“He’s stronger. He’s confident . He understands the offense and trusts the guys around him.”

Both quarterbacks benefited from what McCarney calls “the best group of receivers we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Junior David Banks-Bursey’s seven catches for the White team were more than anyone else, as were his 157 receiving yards, as were the 65 yards on his touchdown reception.

Junior Lance Young led the Cardinal team with five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.

And wide receiver Lane Danielsen’s touchdown came on an end-around, the 58-yards of which showcased his speed.

Kicking the extra point after Danielsen’s first quarter touchdown, and all other touchdowns scored by the Cardinal team, was junior Adam Benike, whom McCarney said will kick the points after touchdowns and shorter field goals this fall.

Tony Yelk, last year’s place kicker, will boot longer field goals and punt.

Benike was not tested with a field goal, but made all seven of his PATs.

Yelk made both of his PATs but missed both of his field goals.

The 36-yard attempt at the start of the second quarter was wide right, the 41-yard attempt to end the half missed to the left.

Both were into a north wind that wavered in its strength.

“Tony definitely has a stronger leg . but Adam’s more accurate,” McCarney said.

A platoon system may be used in the backfield if no one claims the running back spot.

But first, three guys will fight for the running back spot.

Junior Hiawatha Rutland started the game behind Seneca Wallace.

He rushed for more than any other back – 104 yards.

And he scored two touchdowns.

“It felt good to get out and play,” Rutland said, and when reporters asked if he thinks he’s the number one running back, he said “I think all of us feel that way.”

Junior JaMaine Billups rushed for 53 yards, playing for both the Cardinal and White teams.

“I was happy with what I did,” Billups said.

He said he needs to “break more runs, make good reads, block, run well, [and] make big plays” in order to start next year.

Junior Michael Wagner’s eight rushing attempts were the least of the three, yet, of his 32 rushing yards, 12 came on a touchdown carry.

“Hiawatha would start right now,” McCarney said.

Defensively, defensive back Nick Linder led all tacklers with 15 and safety Marc Timmons intercepted two passes, but as a whole, the “secondary didn’t play very well,” Timmons said.

He said the 352 passing yards the Cardinal team gave up were too many.

Things will have to improve, he said, if the Cyclones are to compete in the fall.