Wow. I honestly don’t even believe that happened last night. It still seems like a dream to me. Last night was the best sporting event I have ever been to. A game that almost nobody thought Iowa State even had a chance at winning, and they somehow found a way to pull it off.
It wasn’t one or two people who won this game for Iowa State either. It was truly a combined team effort. The Iowa State defense picked off Heisman front-runner Brandon Weeden three times, forced two fumbles, and not to mention the special teams unit converting an unexpected onside kick to perfection.
Iowa State had many chances to take the lead in the game, but missed opportunities plagued the Cyclones throughout much of the first half.
Zach Guyer missed a field goal from 30 yards and Jared Barnett threw a pick-six in Oklahoma State territory, which gave the Cowboys the 7-0 advantage early on.
In the second quarter, Iowa State responded and Barnett found Darius Reynolds for a touchdown.
On the very next Oklahoma State possession, Weeden hit Justin Blackmon for his first and only touchdown of the night. After Quinn Sharp chipped in the extra points, the score was 17-7.
Turnovers and missed opportunities have been the biggest problems for Iowa State this season. These problems continued for the Cyclones in the first half of the game.
With the Cyclones trailing 17-7 at halftime, Paul Rhoads and his team were hanging in there with one of the best teams in the nation. In order to win the game, Iowa State needed to take advantage of every possession they were given in the second half and the Cowboys needed to make mistakes.
Things didn’t start well for Iowa State in the second half as Weeden drove the Cowboys down the field and connected with Tracy Moore for the 30-yard touchdown.
At this point, the Cyclones trailed by 17 points, their largest deficit of the night. The Cyclones needed an answer, and an answer they got.
Jarvis West returned the kickoff all the way back to the 50 yard line. A few rushes and a first down set up a 32 yards rushing touchdown for James White. A Guyer extra point put the Cyclones back within 10 points of the Cowboys.
As Grant Mahoney lined up to kick off, he attempted an onside kick and the Cyclones recovered it. But could the Cyclones take advantage of the opportunity?
Right off the bat, Barnett hit Albert Gary for a 31-yard completion, putting the Cyclones in scoring distance. A few plays later, Barnett took off running for a 19-yard gain, but fumbled the football a few feet from the sideline and the Cowboys recovered it. Another missed opportunity.
The defense stepped up big for Iowa State after the fumble, as Jake Knott popped the ball loose from Joseph Randle and was recovered by senior Leonard Johnson.
The offense was only able to manage a field goal, but it put the game within one score at 24-17.
The game would head to the 4th quarter. After an Iowa State punt, the Cowboys were driving when Leonard Johnson stepped in front of Justin Blackmon and picked off the pass. The Cyclones were unable to do anything with the turnover and had to punt.
The Cyclone defense would step up big once again and forced another Oklahoma State punt. This time, the Cyclones took advantage. Barnett drove the offense all the way down the field and hooked up with Albert Gary for the game-tying touchdown.
The Cowboys were once again stopped and forced to punt away. Iowa State was looking to take its first lead of the game, but Barnett’s pass was deflected and picked off by Alex Elkins.
Momentum was back in the hands of Oklahoma State. The Cyclone defense was able to hold the Cowboys to a 4th and 1 at the Iowa state 20-yard-line. Sharp came on to kick the 37-yard field goal and missed right.
The game would go to overtime, the second time for Iowa State this season. The Cyclones started on offense first, and on the first play Barnett found James White wide open along the right sideline for the 25-yard touchdown.
Oklahoma State answered with a touchdown tying the game again at 31-31, sending the game in to double overtime.
The Cowboys were back on offense when Weeden’s pass was tipped by Jake Knott and intercepted by Ter’ran Benton for Iowa State. The Cyclones only needed a field goal for the win, but Rhoads put the ball in the hand of the team’s most reliable back, Jeff Woody. The play-call was the same every time, “Give the ball to Woody.” On the third attempt, Woody hit pay dirt and for the first time in school history the Iowa State Cyclones defeated a top-six team.
What a perfect way to send off the Cyclone seniors. It looks like the Cyclones will be going bowling for the second time in three years under CPR.
Unbelievable.
-MVW
