Iowa State's Aiden Flora Runs Wild in 55-7 Rout of Bowling Green
Ames, Iowa — Aiden Flora delivered a career performance Saturday, rushing for 179 of his 194 yards in the first half and adding a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown, as Iowa State crushed Bowling Green 55-7 at Jack Trice Stadium.
The Cyclones (2-1) piled up 507 total yards in their final tune-up before opening Big 12 play next Saturday against No. 17 Utah. The win provided a much-needed bounce-back after last week's 16-13 loss at Iowa.
Flora's breakout game highlights dominant rushing attack
Flora, who walked on in 2024 and earned a scholarship in January, finished with 296 all-purpose yards, the most by an Iowa State player since Leonard Johnson's 319-yard effort against Oklahoma State in 2008.
The Cyclones' rushing attack totaled 365 yards, their most since running for 368 against Texas Tech in 2011. Flora led the charge with touchdown runs of 61 and 42 yards before halftime, helping Iowa State build a 28-point lead.
His 66-yard punt return in the third quarter pushed the lead to 45-7 and capped a historic afternoon. It marked the first time in program history that Iowa State returned both a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the same game.