AMES, Iowa – Aiden Flora’s career game, with a little trickery thrown in for good measure, lifted Iowa State to its first Big 12 victory of the season.
Flora ran for three touchdowns, passed for two and rushed for a career-high 212 yards to lead the Cyclones to a 45-42 Homecoming victory over West Virginia on a perfect autumn Saturday on MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.
And Iowa State (3-2 overall, 1-1 Big 12) needed everything the former walk-on from ADM High School in Adel produced to get past the Mountaineers (3-2, 0-2), who rallied from a 14-point deficit to twice take the lead in a wild fourth quarter in which the two teams combined for 31 points.
With West Virginia leading 42-38, it seemed fitting that Flora notched the winning score for the Cyclones. He followed a wall of blockers on the left side of the line to score from 2 yards out with 1:57 left, capping a six-play, 74-yard drive.
West Virginia had run off some snappy scoring drives so the Mountaineers were still a threat, but the Cyclones sealed it when linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen jarred the ball loose from receiver DJ Epps and ISU’s Seth Johnson recovered it with 40 seconds left.
It was Iowa State’s sixth victory in the last seven games with West Virginia and fourth straight win over the Mountaineers at home.
Flora averaged 9.6 yards on his 22 carries and scored on earlier runs of 24 and 63 yards. His previous high running the ball had been 194 yards against Bowling Green on Sept. 19.
But the biggest surprise this game were his two passing touchdowns. They surprised West Virginia, too.
Iowa State had the ball at the West Virginia 46 early in the second quarter when quarterback Jaylen Raynor turned and threw the ball to Flora, who was behind the line of scrimmage. Flora then lofted a pass downfield to a wide open Cody Jackson, who trotted into the end zone for a 14-7 ISU lead.
After the Mountaineers tied it at 14, Flora struck again with his arm. The Cyclones drove to the West Virginia 2 with time about to run out in the first half. Raynor flipped an underhand toss to Flora, who started to run, then stopped and floated a pass to tight end Vince Benetti in the end zone for a 21-14 halftime lead.
Flora’s 24-yard TD run made it 28-14 early in the third quarter before the Mountaineers stormed back, taking leads of 35-31 and 42-38 behind the running of Cam Cook, the Big 12’s leading rusher, and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.
West Virginia took the first lead of the game on Hawkins’ 33-yard touchdown pass to Cyrus Traugh. Iowa State tied it when Raynor found a wide open Omari Hayes on the right side of the field for a 20-yard TD score. Raynor finished 19-of-27 for a season-high 264 yards. He was intercepted once.
The Cyclones compiled season highs in total offense (577 yards), passing yards (312) and first downs (29). The 45 points were the most against a Big 12 opponent since a 45-13 victory at BYU on Nov. 11, 2013.
Iowa State goes under the lights for its next game, playing at BYU on Friday, Oct. 9. Kickoff time is 9:15 p.m., coverage on KSOM.
Box Score: ISU v. West Virginia
