If nothing else, they’re consistent.

The Iowa State football team flirted with the spoils of victory on yet another Saturday afternoon only to find themselves just three points short as they fell to Kansas, 34-31.

“Obviously, I’m very disappointed for my kids who weren’t able to get a win today,” ISU Head Coach Dan McCarney said. “I’m very, very proud of my coaches and my players.”

Despite a 171-yard effort from ISU tailback Troy Davis and two defensive touchdowns, the Cyclones struggled to stop the Jayhawk offense from moving down the field. Kansas racked up 496 yards of total offense.

June Henley made a significant dent in the ISU defense, rushing 40 times for 226 yards and three touchdowns.

“June Henley obviously will play a lot of years in the NFL if he stays healthy,” McCarney said. “They’re a very talented team, they’re a well-balanced team.”

Not only was the running game clicking, but KU quarterback Ben Rutz and wide receiver Isaac Byrd were playing a simple game of catch all day long. Rutz finished with 203 yards passing and one touchdown, while Byrd hauled in 11 passes for 158 yards and was on the receiving end of Rutz’s touchdown pass.

“Isaac Byrd is an excellent wide receiver,” McCarney said. “They can hurt you in so many ways.”

It was the damage the Jayhawks inflicted upon themselves that kept the Cyclones within striking distance throughout the second half. Tracy Williams scooped up a Henley fumble and reached the end zone 21 yards later, giving ISU the lead, 25-24, with 13:19 remaining in the game.

Williams covered plenty of lateral distance on the return, sprinting across the field while hurdling tacklers before reaching paydirt.

KU kicker Jeff McCord, who struggled with his extra point attempts early in the game, gave the Jayhawks the lead with a 51-yard field goal, but the ISU defense was quick to snatch it back.

Cornerback Dawan Anderson stepped in front of a Rutz pass intended for Byrd and went down the sideline untouched for a 29-yard touchdown.

“[The defensive plays] are the things that can really swing the momentum,” McCarney said. “We hadn’t done that since Dawan picked one off, I believe, and ran it back. It’s hard to do that twice in a season, much less twice in a game.”

The two point conversion attempt following the Anderson touchdown proved to be quite costly. Davis fumbled after being stuffed on a dive play, and KU free safety Tony Blevins scooped up the ball and darted the other way.

ISU quarterback Todd Doxzon chased Blevins all the way to the opposite end of the field, thwarting two blockers’ efforts by slowing Blevins enough for him to be tackled just shy of the end zone.

“[Doxzon]’s such a competitor,”McCarney said. “Whatever it takes, in any circumstance in a game, close game, wide open, they’re way ahead, we’re way behind … he’ll give you everything he’s got.”

Doxzon ended up taking a huge shot on the play, knocking him into a state of dizziness.

Enter Todd Bandhauer, who had not played a snap this season and also looked to be redshirted to allow for three years of eligibility for the future.

Bandhauer was sacked and intercepted on ISU’s last complete drive.

Right decision?

“We’ll do all that we can to put our kids in the position to win games,”McCarney said. “[Bandhauer] knew coming in he might have to play if we’re in a position to win.

“Bandhauer is still our quarterback of the future,”McCarney said, despite the loss of the redshirt.