The Cyclone football program took another major step Saturday in its season-long quest to “turn the corner” and establish itself as a legitimate major college program.

Iowa State headed into Columbia, Mo., with an all-time Big 12 road record of 0-13 and emerged with an impressive 24-21 win.

More importantly, the team also emerged with its confidence intact after last week’s run-in with Nebraska.

“We’ve got some good players with some good hearts, and we’re just sick of losing,” tackle Bill Marsau said after the game. “That was the difference.”

Throughout the first quarter, it looked as though the Cyclones had not yet recovered from their 49-14 thrashing in Lincoln.

The same lack of discipline that had hampered ISU last week was still evident early against the Tigers.

After going four-and-out to start the game, the Cyclones quickly forced a Missouri punt, but when Nigel Tharpe ran into punter Jared Gilpin, the Missouri offense retained the ball.

A crucial DeVaughn Black fumble at the ISU three-yard line, recovered by James Reed, was all that bailed the Cyclones out on the first drive.

The offense, however, continued to sputter, as a trio of penalties snuffed out any momentum ISU was trying to build.

The Tigers would score on their next two possessions to jump ahead by 14 points and seemingly doom the Cyclones to another in a long string of conference road collapses.

When the first quarter came to a close, however, so did the Cyclones’ seven-quarter streak of ineptitude.

“[Their quick start] stunned us, but we learned against Kansas State that when a team gets up, there’s still time,” quarterback Sage Rosenfels said. “We knew we would score more than 14 points.”

J.J. Moses appeared to fumble away a Missouri punt midway through the second quarter but quickly recovered and returned the ball 29 yards to the Missouri 47.

Rosenfels then engineered the first of three consecutive ISU touchdown drives. A clutch 28-yard sideline reception by Chris Anthony and a pair of gritty Darren Davis runs helped the Cyclones halve the Tiger lead.

“They jumped on our heads, 14-0, and we could have really fallen down, but guys had an attitude that we were going to pull out this victory, and we went out there and did it,” Davis said. “Everybody played like they want to be in a bowl game.”

After a solid defensive stand and another quality Moses punt return, the Cyclone offense retook the field and maintained its momentum.

A Rosenfels completion to Kenyatta Burris for 26 yards, combined with four Davis carries for a total of 27 yards, helped ISU find the endzone again and tie the game going into halftime.

The Tigers tried to put together a successful drive to start the third quarter, but tough Cyclone pressure up front came through again.

After Black was stuffed on a second-and-two at the Missouri 42, the Tigers called an option play, but the entire left side of the Cyclone line broke through to disrupt it.

Reggie Heyward delivered a crushing blow to Missouri’s quarterback, Jim Dougherty, just as he released the ball and Cyclone corner Atif Austin beat Black to the fumble to give ISU solid field position again.

The Cyclones’ final touchdown drive featured 11 carries by Rosenfels, Davis and Moses and not a single pass. A hard-nosed effort by the ISU offensive line paved the way for three critical third down conversions, including Rosenfels’ touchdown sweep on third-and-goal at the Missouri two-yard line.

The Tigers didn’t roll over, though, driving to the Cyclone 12 on their first possession of the fourth quarter.

A nine-yard gain by Black on first down seemed to lock up a Tiger score, but the ISU defense came together in a big way.

Dave Brcka stuffed Black on second down, Jeff Waters and Jesse Beckom did the same on third down and a dropped ball under heavy pressure on fourth down forced a turnover at the ISU goal line.

The Cyclones would then drive 71 yards to set up a dead-on 43-yard Mike McKnight field goal that would prove crucial down the stretch.

The Tigers scored on their next possession, but the defense held as time expired in the fourth to preserve the 24-21 win.

“The toughest team pulled it out in the end,” Heyward said.

Davis led all players with 118 rushing yards and two TDs while Rosenfels completed 8-of-13 passes for 141 yards on the afternoon.

Anthony came up big in the absence of standout receiver Damien Groce, catching a pair of balls for 40 yards. Moses also turned in a solid all-around effort, with 120 yards on a kick return, two punt returns, two catches and three carries.

Defensively, Brcka returned to top form with 10 tackles.

“This was a great example of character and resiliency,” head coach Dan McCarney said after the game. “You get a chance out there to stop a lot of negative streaks and start some new, positive ones. That’s what I think these kids are starting to take pride in.”