Texas A&M spoiled Iowa State’s Homecoming festivities by handing the Cyclones a 30-7 whipping Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

The Aggies outplayed the Cyclones in all areas to notch their fifth win of the season. The Aggies improve to 5-2 while the Cyclones fall to 5-2.

The Aggies defense limited the Cyclones to 239 yards of total offense while piling up 469 yards of offense. Balance was the key to the offense as the Aggies finished with 221 rushing yards and 248 passing.

“We just didn’t play that good and A&M was a much better football team than us today,” ISU Head Football Coach Dan McCarney said. “Offensively, we didn’t make any plays to sustain anything. They controlled the line of scrimmage and I have to really credit their defense. They’re athletic, have good speed, and they don’t stay blocked for long.

The Aggies set the tone right away, blocking a punt on the Cyclones’s first offensive possession. The Aggies scored two plays later and added 17 more points in the first half to build a 20-0 halftime cushion.

“I was really pleased with the way we came out and played with emotion right from the start,” Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. “I think it is really important to take the crowd out of the game as soon as possible and we did that with the blocked punt. Getting off to a good start was a focus of ours all week and then after the blocked punt it was good to see the offense finish.”

Aggie quarterback Mark Ferris tossed a pair of touchdown passes and ran for a score to spark the Aggie offense. Ferris put the Aggies up 17-0 in the second quarter with a 76-yard touchdown strike to Dwain Goynes.

ISU tailback Ennis Haywood only managed 75 yards on 14 carries as the Cyclones were held to 102 rushing yards. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels struggled with the passing game, finishing 14-of-32 for 84 yards and a pair of interceptions.

Rua Pokladnik/Iowa State Daily

Alumni baton twirler and Miss Iowa Theresa Uchytil performs with the ISU alumni marching band during the halftime show Saturday afternoon.