Iowa State ended a dismal 1998 campaign on a positive note with a 23-20 victory over Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium on Nov. 21, 1998.

ISU was led by a workhorse effort from tailback Darren Davis. Davis carried the ball 43 times for 184 yards to eclipse the 1,000- yard mark for the second consecutive season and help end a seven-game losing streak for the Cyclones. He came up especially big in the pivotal fourth quarter with ISU clinging to a three-point lead.

After a Jamie Kohl field goal broke a 20-20 tie late in the third quarter, Davis made sure the Cyclones didn’t dwindle the lead away. He toted the ball 17 times for 84 yards in the final 15 minutes, enabling ISU to run down the clock on the Jayhawks.

“His game was just incredible,” ISU quarterback Todd Bandhauer said. “It was a sight for sore eyes the way he took over in the fourth quarter. He was sweetness.”

Davis was able to carry the Cyclones by taking on a tremendous physical beating with extreme ease.

“I didn’t feel it at all,” Davis said. “A teammate asked me if I felt any of the hits, and I just tapped my helmet and said, ‘Nope.'”

ISU also received a strong performance from the other side of the ball. The Cyclone defense held Kansas to 151 yards rushing and came up with a huge third quarter stop to set up Kohl’s game winning field goal.

The Jayhawks were facing a fourth and one on their own 36 yard line when Kansas head coach Terry Allen elected to go for it on a sneak by quarterback Jay Alexander. However, Cyclone defensive lineman James Reed was ready for it and shoved Alexander backwards.

“I had him in a head lock,” Reed said. “It felt good.”

Four plays later, Kohl came in to attempt a 47-yard attempt. He had converted on two earlier attempts, including a career-high 54 yarder.

“Any time you kick a field goal like that the goal posts look wider,” Kohl said. “And when they look wider, you can’t wait to kick it again.”

Kohl calmly drilled it, and ISU was ahead to stay.

The Cyclones had prevailed in an extremely even contest. No team lead by more than seven points throughout the game, and the total yardage difference was a meager three yards, with ISU holding a 364-361 edge.

Cyclone head coach Dan McCarney said the hard-fought victory was a great boost for ISU heading into the 1999 season.

“It’s like we’ve just qualified for postseason play,” McCarney said after his team finished with a 3-8 mark. “We’ve got a tremendous amount to build on.”