Wallace Set School Record in Win

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State has learned that with Seneca Wallace running things, anything is possible.

Wallace certainly made things happen Saturday, setting a school record with 493 total yards and directing a 93-yard touchdown drive with time running out that gave No. 22 Iowa State a 42-35 victory over Missouri.

Mike Wagner scored the game-winner on a 1-yard run with 32 seconds left.

"The last thing I remember everyone saying was how do you want to be remembered, good or great?" Wagner said. "It came down to the goal line with 30 seconds left. Great teams have got to make that play, so that's what we decided to do."

Iowa State (7-3, 4-2 Big 12) broke a two-game losing streak, became bowl eligible for the third straight year and stayed in contention for the league's North Division title.

"We wanted to get that seventh win," said wide receiver Lane Danielsen, who caught eight passes for 152 yards. "We're playing for a better bowl now."

Missouri (4-5, 1-4) kept the heat on the Cyclones all afternoon with redshirt freshman quarterback Brad Smith, who set a school single-season record for total offense.

But Wallace was too good on this day, and he was at his best on the final 13-play drive. Wallace was 4-for-4 for 29 yards and ran four times for 59 yards. The big play was a 33-yard scramble to the Missouri 13 on which he made a defender miss with a swivel-hipped move.

"It opened up a lot," Wallace said. "I knew I could get a first down or maybe score. That's what I tried to do. I was just trying to make something happen with my feet."

Wallace also had an 11-yard run to the 4, and Wagner carried the final three times, going over left guard for the final yard.

Wallace finished 31-of-47 for 425 yards and a touchdown, and carried 10 times for 68 yards and another TD. The school record for total offense was 449 yards by Bret Oberg against Oklahoma in 1989.

"He's liable to do anything," Wagner said of Wallace. "Maybe the only thing that would surprise me would be if he was to do a flip in a game. His running with his legs, nothing surprises me now."

Wallace's 31 completions broke the school record of 30 he set last year at Texas A&M, and his yards passing were the second most in school history, topped only by Todd Bandhauer's 437 against Texas in 1998.

"He threw the ball well this game," Missouri defensive end Antwaun Bynum said. "Then at the end of the game, we were in coverage and he got the yards he needed running."

Smith totaled 318 yards to give him 2,683 for the season. Corby Jones set the Missouri record of 2,545 in 1997. Smith was 23-of-34 for 241 yards and one touchdown and added 77 yards rushing in 15 carries.

Missouri tied it at 35 when Marcus James returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown with 10:26 left - Missouri's first punt return for a TD since 1990.

James fielded the bouncing ball at his own 20, ran to his right, picked up a couple of blocks, slipped two tackles and outran the pursuit by cutting back across the field.

But in the end it was just another narrow loss for the Tigers, who lost to No. 2 Oklahoma 31-24 a month ago.

"Another ranked opponent we let go," receiver Justin Gage said. "It's tough fighting for four quarters and at the end, not having enough."

Iowa State took a 35-28 lead late in the third quarter on Wagner's 10-yard touchdown run and Wallace's 2-point conversion run. The Cyclones could have put it away earlier, but Wallace had two touchdown passes wiped out by penalties, and had another drive thwarted by a holding call.

Missouri took its only lead, 28-27, on Smith's 55-yard touchdown pass to Darius Outlaw, a former quarterback, in the third quarter. Outlaw was only 5 yards downfield when he caught the ball but was able to outrun three defenders to the end zone.

Adam Benike's 44-yard field goal gave Iowa State a 27-14 lead in the first half and the Cyclones got the ball back after a punt. But Wallace fumbled, Missouri recovered at the Iowa State 48 and Smith took the Tigers down the field. Zack Abron scored on a 3-yard run with 24 seconds left in the half to cut the lead to 27-21.

"Obviously, we're not making the plays we have to make," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "It's a combination of things. You can't be a good defense if you're giving up big plays."

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Lane Danielsen

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Seneca Wallace

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