Iowa Goes to Banks and Wins

The Iowa-Iowa State game was supposed to feature Sedrick Shaw and Troy Davis. It turned out to be Tavian Banks’ day instead.

Banks ran for a career-high 182 yards and three touchdowns, including an 89-yard score, as the No. 21 Hawkeyes rolled past the Cyclones, 38-13, Saturday for their 14th consecutive victory over Iowa State.

Banks, the Hawkeyes’ second-string tailback, spelled Shaw frequently in the first half and finished the game after Shaw limped off the field with an injury to his left ankle in the third quarter.

“It was really nothing special,” Banks said. “Sedrick just happened to go down and I had to step in. We went with the same game plan we’ve been going with. It just happened to be my day.”

Banks, who gained 102 yards in his first three carries, also scored on runs of 12 and 28 yards. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior topped his previous best of 147 yards against New Mexico State last year.

Shaw, Iowa’s career rushing leader, finished with 79 yards in 10 carries.

“I said long ago, and a lot of people think you’re blowing smoke when you say wonderful things about other players, but Tavian Banks and Sedrick Shaw are two of the best backs in the country,” said Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney, a former Iowa player and assistant.

“Both of them could play with anybody in college football. I’m convinced of that, going into the game and after today.”

The 89-yard touchdown run, which came on the final play of the first quarter and broke a scoreless tie, was the longest by an Iowa player in 24 years and the fourth-longest overall. It was one of several big plays for the Hawkeyes.

The Hawkeyes outgained Iowa State, 356-61, in building a 24-0 halftime lead and finished with 536 yards.

Davis, the Iowa State back who led the nation in rushing with 2,010 yards last year, finished with 152 yards in 20 carries.