No one predicted victory.

Only the bravest even dared to dream it.

In fact, few Cyclone fans even expected a close game.

Even if the Cyclone football team were to beat their tormentors of 15 years, who in their wildest imagination could have foreseen the total domination that occurred last September? Certainly not head coach Dan McCarney.

“I don’t know that in a hundred years I could have envisioned that score over here against a tremendous program like Iowa,” McCarney said.

Days before the game, McCarney seemed unable to think of a single position that his Cyclones were stronger at than their intrastate rivals. On Saturday, the reason for this hesitation became clear.

The Cyclones were better than the Hawkeyes at every position.

“We just had the better team today,” McCarney said. “That’s what makes it feel so good — our kids won it as a team.”

The Cyclone offense was spectacular. Paced by Darren Davis’ 244 yards rushing and an offensive line that embarrassed the Hawkeye front seven, Iowa State seemed to move the ball at will.

Equally impressive was the defense, and McCarney couldn’t have been happier.

“Every time we got our backs to the wall,” he said, “our defense rose up.”

The Cyclone defense shut down the Hawkeyes, surrendering only 42 yards on the ground and 271 yards, total.

The most pleasant surprise, however, did not come on offense or defense. For the first time in nearly three years, the Iowa State special teams were truly special.

The Cyclones jumped on the board early, capitalizing on a Kevin Wilson blocked punt at the Iowa 13 yard line. Three plays later, Davis split the defense up the middle for the crucial first touchdown of the game.

Less than five minutes later, another heads-up play on special teams provided the Cyclones a second window of opportunity.

Kahlil Hill, whose two touchdown returns against Central Michigan had made him an overnight sensation, was nowhere near as impressive against Iowa State.

Hill fumbled away his first punt return of the game, and Dawan Anderson was there to recover for the Cyclones.

The ISU offense moved the ball to the Hawkeye 10, and Jamie Kohl extended the lead to 10-0 with a chip-shot field goal.

The Hawkeye offense didn’t get going all day.

Their running game, led by freshman Ladell Betts, averaged only 1.7 yards per carry on the ground.

The passing game was noticeably better but couldn’t overcome a ferocious Cyclone pass rush that knocked freshman signal-caller Kyle McCann around all day.

Jesse Beckom led the charge with 10 tackles and three quarterback sacks. The Cyclones finished the day with five sacks as a team.

Todd Bandhauer, Davis and the rest of the offense proved time and again that they were head-and-shoulders above the Hawkeye defenders.

Most notable was a pair of 80-yard touchdown drives, one late in the first quarter and one early in the third.

Both drives featured key Bandhauer completions, one-yard touchdown dives by fullback Joe Parmentier and, of course, Darren Davis.

McCarney was gracious in victory, emphasizing all that he owes to Hawkeye head coach Hayden Fry and the University of Iowa.

Bandhauer, however, had other thoughts on his mind.

“I know that McCarney’s always talking about how great Hayden Fry is,” Bandhauer said, “but Hayden Fry — we kicked your ass!”

After the game, McCarney summed up the feelings of everyone associated with Cyclone football.

“It feels good to smile again,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”