AMES - Misery, meet company.

Saturday, Iowa State, which owned a five-game losing streak, hosted a Texas A&M club that entered the week allowing 47.7 points per game in league play.

On paper, this looked like one of those awkward Saturday night get-togethers no one seems to look forward to.

In the end, Iowa State played the role of the hospitable host, allowing Texas A&M to waltz away with a 49-35 triumph.

The Aggies were paced by sophomore signal-caller Jerrod Johnson's 388 passing yards. Iowa State, which racked up 580 total yards of offense, lost despite Austen Arnaud's career-high 377 yards through the air.

"Defensively, we couldn't stop 'em," Iowa State coach Gene Chizik acknowledged afterward. "They really exploited us. They pretty much had their way with us all night."

Eighteen total underclassmen started this game, including nine for each club. The Aggies started six freshmen.

And, youth served the visitors quite nicely.

Iowa State (2-6, 0-4), which entered the night ranked 98th nationally in total defense, watched Texas A&M's Johnson often pick its secondary apart. Johnson threw for three first half scores.

"We couldn't get (the Aggies) off the field," said Chizik.

Texas A&M's ailing running game was further wounded when star rusher Mike Goodson didn't start Saturday, due to a sprained knee ligament. Yet, true freshman Cyrus Gray filled in admirably, and registered a 27-yard scoring run that put the visitors up, 28-14 shortly before half.

Iowa State's struggling offense showed life in Saturday's first half, ringing up 300 total yards - 82 more than it recorded in the entire game in a loss against Nebraska eight days earlier. Arnaud, who has operated with a sore throwing shoulder in recent days, produced 310 yards of total offense in the first 45 minutes alone.

But A&M's offense was truly lively.

Employing no-huddle, shotgun sets, the Aggies' (3-5, 1-3) passing game riddled Iowa State's defense. And, when absolutely necessary, the visitors went

the smash-mouth route.

With barely a minute remaining in the third quarter, A&M turned to 6-foot, 285-pound battering ram fullback Jorvorskie Lane, and the senior delivered with a one-yard touchdown run behind right tackle. That third-and-goal run gave the Aggies a 35-20 advantage.

Mike Sherman's squad converted on 10 of its first 12 third-down attempts.

"Third downs (told) the story for the night," noted Chizik. "You can look at that stat and see it was gonna be a long night."

Iowa State offensive coordinator Robert McFarland admitted recently that he had been far too conservative in his play-calling. But coaches can't prevent on-field errors, as Iowa State learned yet again early in the fourth quarter, when linebacker Von Miller stripped Arnaud at midfield.

That set up a short scoring run by Johnson. A&M 42, Cyclones 20.

Adding insult to injury, Iowa State thought it had a legitimate chance midway through the fourth quarter. After a 10-yard scoring run by Arnaud helped Iowa State inch to within 42-28, the Cyclones' Darius Darks appeared to recover the ensuing onside kick after it hit an Aggie.

However, the play was reviewed and - somehow, some way - officials decided to award A&M the ball on Iowa State's 37 1/2 yardline. Apparently, officials thought the kick never touched an Aggie and Darks had touched it before it had traveled the required 10 yards.

The subsequent boos that rained down on the officials also officially sounded this game's outcome.

Another loss and another sobering slap in the face for Iowa State.

Iowa State hasn't won since Sept. 6, against Kent State.

"It just boils down to … we didn't play up to our full capabilities," Arnaud said. "We have the confidence we can win every game."

"We've got four games left," said Chizik. "There's gonna be a brighter day for Iowa State; we're building a foundation."

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com.