COLUMBIA, Mo. — For the first time all year, the Iowa State football team was able to run the ball, but it could not avoid running its record to 0-5 as the Cyclones lost 45-21 to Missouri.

The loss continued a streak of 28 straight road games without a victory and was the team’s twelfth in a row dating back to last season.

Early on, the Cyclones were sparked in the first half by the return of Darren Davis. The highly-touted sophomore racked up 130 yards on 18 carries.

“Having Darren Davis back really helped,” Coach Dan McCarney said. “We were trying to establish a running game and create balance.”

ISU, who had relied heavily on the pass in previous games, was only able to muster 111 yards through the air.

“This was the worst game I’ve ever played,” quarterback Todd Bandhauer said. “I want to apologize to the entire Iowa State family for the way I played.” Bandhauer ended the game completing just seven of 23 passes for 80 yards.

“Bandi is certainly capable of playing better. I’m capable of coaching better,” McCarney said. “We all made mistakes and we all need to improve if we expect to get things on track. We made some critical mistakes like dropping passes, fielding a punt inside the 10-yard line. You learn not to do those things in the seventh grade.”

A visibly upset Bandhauer said, “I just did not execute, I couldn’t hit anybody out there. I take a lot of responsibility for this loss. I’ve thrown for more in one quarter than I did in this whole damn game.”

On the flip side, Missouri quarterback Corby Jones threw for a career high 213 yards on 12-14 passing with two touchdowns. He also ran for 81 yards and two scores.

“Jones is an outstanding player,” McCarney said. “He was a real difference. He did a great job executing, coming off the run. He is a real accurate passer.”

Jones got Missouri out front early with a 5-yard touchdown strike to Eddie Brooks.

However, ISU bounced right back when Jerome Heavens got the Cyclones on the board with the team’s first rushing touchdown of the season. Missouri’s Brock Olivo rounded out the first quarter scoring with a 9-yard scamper.

The second quarter started out with promise for the Cyclones when Missouri’s Randy Potter fumbled an ISU punt and Preston Rhamy pounced on it in Missouri territory.

Davis capped a 3-play, 22-yard drive with 2-yard plunge, but was penalized for unsportsman-like conduct for giving the “raise the roof” signal.

The rest of the quarter was dominated by the Tigers. The Tigers took the ensuing kick-off, and drove the ball 71 yards ending with a 9-yard run by Jones. Then on the Cyclones’ next possession, punter Carl Gomez was tacked while attempting to punt.

Missouri capitalized on the mistake. Jones ran for his second score, giving the Tigers a 28-14 halftime lead.

Missouri ended with 501 total yards, with 213 coming through the air. Michael Cooper led the defensive charge with 12 tackles, including 10 solo. Dawan Anderson ended with 10 stops. Kip King had seven tackles, including a sack.

The second half started off much the same way the first half ended, with Missouri dominating. Jones found a streaking Kent Layman for a 56-yard score. The completion was the longest in Jones’ career.

The potent Tiger passing attack was somewhat of a surprise to the Cyclone defense.

“We expected them to run a lot straight up the middle,” Rhamy said, who ended with 10 tackles and a broken-up pass. “They were last in the Big 12 in passing, but (Jones) had time and he hurt us. When he’s on, he’s on, but when he’s off he’s off. Today he was definitely on.”

“We had a few breakdowns,” Rhamy said. “We didn’t cover very well, we obviously need to improve. When you start playing the option and the run, you kind of get lulled to sleep.”

As the team fell further behind, ISU was forced to throw the ball more. “In the second half we didn’t run the ball enough,” Davis said. “When you got something going good, you should keep going to it and we didn’t.”

The Cyclones were able to muster one more last effort. Bandhauer found Tyrone Watley for a 23-yard TD strike.

“Their offense did a great job of keeping us off the field,” ISU receiver Ed Williams said. “Today we tried to focus on the running game because that was our weakness, but today we couldn’t throw the ball.”

In the final stanza, the Tigers continued to roll, even without the injured Jones. The offense controlled much of the quarter, scoring another 10 points.