Cyclones leave Hawkeyes in dust

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State's turnaround was stunning. So was Iowa's, though for different reasons.

A week after struggling to beat Division 1-AA Illinois State, Iowa State played inspired defense and capitalized on turnovers for all its points to shock No. 8 Iowa, 23-3, yesterday and end the Hawkeyes' nine-game winning streak.

Iowa State (2-0) frustrated Iowa (1-1) throughout, recovering three fumbles and intercepting two passes, one of which LaMarcus Hicks returned 28 yards for a touchdown.

Iowa scored with ease in a 56-0 rout of Ball State in its opener, but the Hawkeyes were so inept offensively in this one that they never got closer to the end zone than the Iowa State 26.

''We had to be one of the most-improved teams in the country from Week 1 to Week 2 if we were going to have a chance," Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. ''That's the way we played today."

It was Iowa State's first victory over a top-10 team under McCarney, the coach since 1995, and the first for the school since a 19-10 win over No. 7 Nebraska in 1992.

Iowa got 140 yards on 18 carries from Albert Young but had little else going.

Even worse, Iowa lost quarterback Drew Tate with an apparent concussion midway through the second quarter. He is expected to return for Saturday's game with Northern Iowa.

Jason Manson, a junior who has played little in his career, replaced Tate. On his third play, he fired a pass to Ed Hinkel that Iowa State's Adam Carper tipped. The ball went right to Hicks playing deep and he ran untouched down the left sideline, giving the Cyclones a 16-0 lead.

Iowa State was hardly overwhelming on offense, managing a modest 323 total yards. But it wasn't necessary with the way Iowa self-destructed.

''This is about as good a feeling as you can have playing football," said ISU quarterback Bret Meyer, who threw for one touchdown and set up another with a long completion. ''This game is what it is and if it helps us gain respect, that's good. I hope people start realizing we can play football, too."

Trailing, 16-3, Iowa had a chance to make it interesting, driving to a first down at the Iowa State 30 midway through the fourth quarter. Three plays later, though, Scott Chandler fumbled after catching a pass. Hicks recovered at the Iowa 20.

With black-and-gold-clad Iowa fans streaming out of the stadium, Iowa State drove 80 yards in nine plays for the clinching touchdown. Meyer's 40-yard pass to Todd Blythe put the ball at the 2, and Ryan Kock bulled into the end zone on the next play.