Iowa State’s hopes for clinching a winning season took yet

another step

in

the wrong direction.

The Colorado Buffaloes tore through the Cyclone defense, gaining

502

yards

of total offense, in a 40-27 win Saturday.

“They made some big plays before the half and that makes it hard

to

fight

back,” ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace said. “It was just one of

those

nights.”

The play in particular that Wallace was talking about was a 50-yard

screen

pass from Colorado’s Bobby Pesavento to running back Cortlen

Johnson.

Instead of trailing 16-14 at the half, the Cyclones were down nine,

23-14

heading into the locker room.

“It hurt, it hurt us bad,” Wallace said.

The Buffalo rushing attack also hurt the Cyclones, racking up 255

yards

on

the ground against a Cyclone defense that often missed tackles

and

allowed

big gains.

Johnson led the Colorado attack, gaining 172 yards on 27 carries

marking the

second-straight week Iowa State has given up 172 yards to a

back.

“There were too many missed tackles,” ISU head coach Dan

McCarney said.

The Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12) also shut down Iowa State’s

running

game,

holding Ennis Hayward to 64 yards on 15 carries. The Cyclones

(5-4,

3-4)

gained 411 total yards in the game, but most of them came when

the

contest

was out of reach.

Now Iowa State faces must win games at Kansas next and then

hosting Iowa on Nov. 24 to ensure a winning season.

“The next two games are the biggest games of our season,”

McCarney

said.