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 on Saturday?

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 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.”

Sophomore Dustin Avey reiterated those feelings.

“We had to pull together as a team, as a coaching staff, as a Cyclone family. Once we did that and focused on Iowa, the rest is history.”

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.

“We challenged our kids to get a good running game going and try to give Darren Davis opportunities,” McCarney said. “Bottom line, it was a good plan and it worked.”

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

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

After surrendering 368 yards, including 297 on the ground, to TCU, the Cyclone defense shut down the Hawkeyes. Iowa only managed 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.

This aspect of the game, traditionally tough on Iowa State and thought to heavily favor Iowa, instead did in the Hawkeyes.

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.

“It’s critical to get off to a good start,” McCarney said, “and our kids got off to a great start today and they sustained it for four quarters.”

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.

“Some of the people at our school, and especially the people in Iowa City, doubted us,” Beckom said, with a smile reserved only for the victorious underdog. “It feels good to come out and prove a point against them.”

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

Most notably were 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.

The first quarter drive, which put the Cyclones up 17-3, stalled at the Iowa 27. A gutsy decision to go for it on fourth down led to a 21-yard completion to Andy Stensrud which set up the score.

The third quarter score, which seemed to break the will of the Hawkeyes, was on the first drive of the second half and featured a 26-yard completion to Damien Groce and a 39-yard carry by Davis. After another Parmentier dive, the ‘Clones were up 27-3.

Iowa found the endzone for the first and only time late in the third quarter. Their drive, which was highlighted more by big Cyclone penalties than by any sort of Hawkeye ability, began at their own 21.

After the game, players, coaches and fans alike were euphoric.

Dustin Avey was overcome by the moment.

“Those last few seconds on the sidelines, I just looked around at how the fans were reacting, how the players were reacting, how the coaches were reacting — how the entire stadium was reacting,” Avey said, his eyes belying the tears that had come to nearly every player and coach. “I just want to remember this moment forever.”

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.”