AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — Aiden Flora scored on a 2-yard run with 1:57 remaining, and Iowa State defeated visiting West Virginia 45-42 on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game. West Virginia, the visiting team, moved to 3-2. Iowa State, the home team, also moved to 3-2. The Mountaineers scored 42 points, while the Cyclones finished with 45.

West Virginia opened the scoring in the first quarter when Michael Hawkins Jr. connected with Cyrus Traugh on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 6:53 left. Jack Cassidy made the extra point. Iowa State answered later in the quarter when Jaylen Raynor found Omari Hayes for a 20-yard touchdown with 2:31 remaining, and Kyle Konrardy added the extra point. Raynor, Iowa State’s top star, completed 19 of 27 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown while adding 11 carries for 15 yards and one tackle. The Cyclones moved the ball efficiently through the air and kept pace in a game that featured six second-half touchdowns and two fourth-quarter lead changes.

In the second quarter, Iowa State took a brief lead when Aiden Flora threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Cody Jackson with 11:04 left. Konrardy’s extra point made it a seven-point game. West Virginia responded when Hawkins rushed 8 yards for a touchdown with 6:12 remaining, and Cassidy’s kick tied the score. Iowa State appeared to score again before halftime on a Raynor 11-yard run, but the touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty. The Cyclones recovered and took the lead into the break when Flora completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Vince Benetti with five seconds remaining. Konrardy’s kick made the halftime margin 21-14 in favor of Iowa State.

Iowa State extended its lead early in the third quarter when Flora rushed 24 yards for a touchdown at the 12:15 mark, and Konrardy’s kick made it a two-score game. West Virginia answered with Hawkins’ second rushing touchdown, a 7-yard run with 5:43 left, and Cassidy’s kick cut the deficit. The Mountaineers pulled closer later in the quarter when Cam Cook rushed 9 yards for a touchdown with 1:07 remaining. Cassidy’s extra point brought West Virginia within seven entering the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter produced a rapid exchange of scores. Konrardy made a 35-yard field goal with 10:45 remaining to push Iowa State’s lead back to two scores. West Virginia answered when Cook rushed 8 yards for a touchdown with 7:34 left, and Cassidy’s kick trimmed the margin. Iowa State responded when Flora broke free for a 63-yard touchdown run with 6:08 remaining, and Konrardy’s extra point restored a two-score cushion. West Virginia came back again when Hawkins hit DJ Epps for a 47-yard touchdown with 5:04 left, and Cassidy’s kick made it a three-point game. The Cyclones then put together the decisive drive, capped by Flora’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:57 remaining. Konrardy’s extra point provided the final margin.

West Virginia’s defense was led by Cam Torbor, who recorded 10 tackles. Ben Cutter had nine tackles and one sack, while Zeke Durham-Campbell, Isaiah Patterson and Andrew Powdrell each made seven stops. Patterson also intercepted a pass. Matt Sieg returned two punts for 30 yards and made eight tackles. Nate Gabriel added four tackles and one sack, and Harper Holloman had three tackles and one quarterback hurry. Chams Diagne, David Afogho and Keyshawn Robinson each contributed tackles. Bryan Hansen punted five times for 215 yards.

For Iowa State, Sullivan Schlimgen made 11 tackles, Carson Willich had seven tackles and one quarterback hurry, and Willie Breland III added five stops. Malaki Ta’ase recorded one sack, Seth Johnson made four tackles, and Blake Hawkins had one tackle. Jonah DuPont punted four times for 173 yards, while Ethan Gurney added a 50-yard punt. The Cyclones also received steady kicking from Konrardy, who made the 35-yard field goal and converted extra points throughout the game.

Hawkins completed 11 of 23 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns for West Virginia and rushed 20 times for 149 yards and two scores. Cook rushed 20 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 5 yards. Epps caught four passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. Traugh had a 33-yard touchdown catch. Prince Strachan caught three passes for 41 yards, Jaden Bray had a 34-yard reception, and Sieg contributed on special teams.

Raynor was Iowa State’s top star, finishing 19-of-27 for 264 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 15 yards. Flora delivered a remarkable all-around game, completing both of his passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 22 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Cody Jackson caught six passes for 160 yards and one touchdown. Dominic Overby had three catches for 70 yards, Hayes had three catches for 34 yards and one touchdown, and Ty Claiborne added three catches for 24 yards. Benetti caught two passes for 8 yards and one touchdown. Ryver Peppers rushed eight times for 29 yards, Cameron Pettaway had three carries for 8 yards and two kick returns for 33 yards, and Arnold Barnes III added two carries for 2 yards.

The Mountaineers scored 42 points, but the Cyclones’ final drive and Flora’s late touchdown run proved decisive. Iowa State converted key plays in the fourth quarter, including Flora’s 63-yard scoring run and the game-winning 2-yard run. West Virginia had one final opportunity, but the Cyclones defense held. Iowa State improved to 3-2, while West Virginia dropped to 3-2. The Mountaineers next host Arizona, and the Cyclones next visit BYU.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Iowa State 49, West Virginia 23. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Iowa State with an 87.9 percent probability to win. West Virginia had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +3. The total score of 87 went over the over/under line of 53.5.