Ames, Iowa ? In some ways, it was a typical Iowa State-Kansas State football game. The winner dominated, the loser looked out of sorts and helpless.

Except this time, Iowa State was the one doing the mauling.

The Cyclones are bowl-eligible after beating Kansas State, 45-17, Saturday, holding the mistake-prone Wildcats to 12 yards rushing and adding to the woes of a once-proud program that has been reduced to a shadow of its former self.

Only two years ago, Kansas State beat Iowa State, 45-0, its 10th straight victory over the Cyclones, and won the Big 12 Conference championship. Now, Iowa State has a two-game winning streak against its former nemesis and still has a chance of sharing the Big 12 North title for the second straight year.

“Not too long ago, we were getting dominated by people,” said nose guard Nick Leaders, who was part of Iowa State’s 2-10 season in 2003. “Now we can play with anybody.”

Iowa State (6-3, 3-3 Big 12), which started 0-3 in the league for the third straight year, can gain a share of the division championship if it wins out and gets some help.

Iowa State coach Dan McCarney, right, greets quarterback Bret Meyer as he walks off the field after an Iowa State touchdown. ISU beat Kansas State, 45-17, Saturday in Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones play host to division leader Colorado (7-2, 5-1) Saturday, then finish the regular season at rapidly improving Kansas (5-4, 2-4) on Nov. 26. For Iowa State to tie for first, the Cyclones have to win those games and Colorado has to lose at home to fading Nebraska on Nov. 25.

“We have a lot to play for these last two remaining Saturdays,” said Iowa State coach Dan McCarney, whose has the Cyclones eyeing their fifth bowl bid in six years. “The pressure of getting the bowl bid is off, so do we relax? No. And I’m not going to let one coach or player around here relax.”

Iowa State has been sensational since blowing a 24-14 fourth-quarter lead in an overtime loss at Missouri that left some fans wondering whether McCarney could keep the program winning on a consistent basis.

They bounced back from that loss to beat Oklahoma State 37-10, then routed Texas A&M 42-14 in College Station a week ago. With Saturday’s victory, Iowa State has scored at least 37 points in three straight conference games for the first time in its 114 years of football.

“After we lost that Missouri game, coach Mac came back and said this is the start of the second season,” running back Stevie Hicks said. “We just started playing harder and playing like we were capable of doing.”

Hicks’ return from an injury that neither he nor McCarney will identify has been huge in Iowa State’s run. His mere presence in the huddle was enough to inspire the offense, but his contribution has gone well beyond that.

In his first extensive action since Iowa State beat Iowa on Sept. 10, Hicks ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns at A&M. He upped his production Saturday, carrying 24 times for 149 yards and capping his day with a 37-yard touchdown run.

After offensive coordinator Barney Cotton told his unit it had to do a better job running the ball, Hicks went for 130 yards in 17 second-half carries.

“In the second half, we said if we’re going to be a good football team, we’ve got to be able to run the ball,” Hicks said. “So coach Cotton said we had to start getting physical because we’re running the ball in this half. Everyone just stepped up and that’s what we did.”

Unless Kansas State (4-5, 1-5) can turn things around dramatically, the Wildcats will stumble to their second straight losing season.