Arnaud Sets ISU Passing Mark in 38-30 Loss

MANHATTAN, Kan. ? Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud hit on 31-of-45 passes for a school record 440 yards and three touchdowns Saturday. The Cyclone offense rolled up 626 yards of total offense, the school's third-best tally ever and the all-time best against a conference opponent. Thirteen different Cyclones caught a pass. ISU drove up and down the field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and scored on the last play of the game. Iowa State outgained Kansas State by more than 150 yards. But ultimately, the Wildcats still beat the Cyclones 38-30.

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Three Cyclone turnovers (two interceptions) cost ISU dearly, including a key muffed fourth-quarter pitch at the Kansas State 3-yard line as Kansas State prevailed 38-30 in the season finale for both teams. Iowa State finished the season with a 2-10 record. Kansas State finishes 5-7.

“Personal stats mean nothing,” Arnaud said. “We have a lot of people coming back next year and we are committed to getting better. My heart goes out to the seniors who gave us everything they had.”

Outgoing Kansas State head coach Ron Price had high praise for Arnaud.

“I had a few words for (Arnaud) after the game,” Prince said. “I think he and the quarterback from Texas A&M are going to be real stars in this league. He's a really good young man and obviously was really effective today.”

Iowa State held nothing back. The Cyclones used a fake punt lob from Brandtner to Taylor Mansfield that went for 22 yards and a first down during the game. ISU ran two flea flicker plays. The last play of the game saw Arnaud hit R.J. Sumrall on a 5-yard TD pass as time expired.

“The final drive was appropriate in that our guys never quit today,” Chizik said. “I am proud of their effort. Offensively we did some really good things but turnovers will kill you. That is why we always stress taking care of the football.”

Sumrall finished his career with 156 receptions (3rd ISU all-time) for 1,805 yards (5th ISU all-time).

Both teams put up big numbers. Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman completed 17-of-30 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns.

After a zany first half that saw the two teams rack up a combined 45 points on 616 yards of total offense, Kansas State took a 35-17 third-quarter advantage on a 5-yard pass from Freeman with 6:31 left in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Alexander Robinson's 82-yard TD dash was called back on a holding call against Iowa State. The Cyclones still drove down the field but lost the football at the Kansas State 3-yard line when a pitch was mishandled on its way from Arnaud to Scales with 12:42 left in the game.

Iowa State stayed competitive, driving 62 yards in nine plays on its next drive, capped by a 28-yard TD pass from Arnaud to Marquis Hamilton to close the gap to 35-24 with 6:01 remaining in the game.

ISU had moved the ball all day.

Iowa State drove 61 yards down the field on its first drive but a scoring chance was thwarted when Grant Mahoney's 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked. It was Kansas State's school record ninth blocked kick of the season. KSU took over at its own 20 and drove 80 yards with Lamarck Brown going over from 1-yard out for a 7-0 Wildcat advantage at the 7:51 mark of the first quarter.

Iowa State then drove 80 yards in 13 plays over 6:59, all on the ground, to tie the score 7-7. Jason Scales took an option pitch from Austen Arnaud from 3 yards out to tie the score. It didn't take long (2:08) for Kansas State to retaliate. Freeman hit Deon Murphy on a 44-yard TD toss and the Wildcats took the lead, 14-7.

The see-saw affair continued as Iowa State went back to the air on its next drive, going 70 yards.

Arnaud used a 22-yard completion to tight end Patrick Neal and an 18-yard flea flicker pass from Arnaud to Alexander Robinson before the ISU quarterback hit R.J. Sumrall with a 19-yard TD pass to tie the game 14-14, with 10:48 remaining in the second stanza. After the Cyclones stopped KSU on downs, the Wildcats picked off an Arnaud pass. Freeman struck back by hitting Brandon Banks with a 20-yard TD pass over the middle and Kansas State led 21-14 with 5:28 left in the first half. The Wildcats made it 28-14 on a 19-yard Freeman strike to Ernie Pierce with 1:21 left in the second quarter.

Iowa State was not done, driving 61 yards in 10 plays to get a 48-yard field goal that equaled a career long from Grant Mahoney that made its 28-17 at halftime.

Arnaud's 2008 total of 247 completions is a school single-season record.

Players Mentioned

Austen Arnaud

Austen Arnaud

Marquis Hamilton

Marquis Hamilton

Grant Mahoney

Taylor Mansfield

Taylor Mansfield

Patrick Neal

Patrick Neal

Alexander Robinson

Alexander Robinson

Jason Scales

Jason Scales

R.J. Sumrall

R.J. Sumrall

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