(Ames, IA) — There are not many Cyclone fans today that were around in 1912. That was the last time Iowa St. had won a conference championship — then it was the Missouri Valley Conference. But the 2024 version of the Cyclones have rewritten the history books — on Saturday night Iowa St. beat Kansas St. 29-21 to clinch a share of the Big 12 regular season title and will play Arizona St. in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, December 7. The win also gave Iowa St. their 10th of the season something no Cyclone team had done.
This game had a little bit of everything. Two turnovers turned into two touchdowns in the first half. There was a blocked field goal. A safety. And Iowa St. even was able to stop the run, holding D.J. Giddens to a modest 72 yards and the Cyclones actually ended up outrushing the Wildcats 187 to 144.
K-St would make a mistake early — actually on their first offensive play of the game QB Avery Johnson tried to pitch it to the outside but the ball hit the turf and Iowa St. recovered it at the KSU 27 — six plays later the Cyclones were in the end zone on a 15 yard TD pass from Rocco Becht to Jayden Higgins.
After an exchange of punts, the Wildcats got going on a 10 play drive — on 4th and 2 Johnson found Jayce Brown for a 28 yard TD pass to tie the game at 7-7. Another exchange of punts gave ISU the ball near midfield but a short drive would stall and Kyle Konrardy booted a 41 yard field goal early in the 2nd quarter. K St would cough it up again — Johnson found Keagan Johnson for a 7 yard gain but he fumbled and Joey Petersen recovered it for the Cyclones. ISU took advantage of a pass interference call and Becht found Jaylin Noel for a 9 yard TD pass and Iowa St. had a 17-7 lead.
The 2nd quarter was far from over — K St got a big play from Johnson on a 65 yard TD pass to Brown to cut the lead to three. After an exchange of punts, ISU got the score back taking advantage of a Wildcat face mask call and Becht would run it in for a 5 yard TD and the Cyclones led 24-14 at the half.
Iowa St. had the ball first in the 2nd half but quickly punted. K St. moved into field goad range but Darien Porter screamed around the edge and blocked it. That got Head Coach Matt Campbell pumped up but ISU again failed to move so the Wildcats got back to work. Johnson found Oakley on a 28 yard pass then Johnson scrambled for 21 yards. It was a 60 yard drive in just over 2 minutes and Johnson hit Oakley for a 7 yard TD pass that he just held onto. The ISU lead was cut to 24-21.
Iowa St. started a long drive converting two key third downs — the Cyclones were only 4-16 on third downs all game. Facing a 4th and 2 at the KSU 7, Campbell chose to go for it but Becht’s pass was incomplete. The Wildcats moved out of trouble to their own 22 but on 3rd and 7, Johnson tried to make a play but ended up going backward from the Iowa St. rush and ended up in the end zone when he threw the ball away. There was no receiver near the pass and it was ruled intentional grounding and thus a safety. Iowa St. got the ball back but was forced to settle for a Konrardy short field goal to make it 29-21.
However, Iowa St. had used seven minutes on that drive leaving 6:16 left in the game. K St failed to convert a 4th and 2 setting up ISU at the Wildcat 35. The Cyclones used the clock and pounded runs right at a tired Kansas St. defense but Konrardy could not make it a 2 score game with a missed 37 yard kick. The Wildcats took over but Johnson was pounded into the turf on 3rd down and his back up threw incomplete on 4th and 15 ending the game.
Abu Sama had 15 carries for 81 yards; Carson Hansen had 13 carries for 58 yards and Becht had 35 yards rushing and a TD. Becht was only 13-35 passing for 137 yards and 2 TD but no interceptions and was only sacked once.
Kansas St. simply had too many mistakes — the two turnovers, 8 penalties which were double what the Cyclones committed plus the blocked field goal and Johnson’s intentional grounding in the end zone might have been the biggest play of the game.
Kansas St. finishes their regular season at 8-4 and will learn their bowl fate next Sunday. Iowa St. is now 10-2 and play the Sun Devils of Arizona St. this coming Saturday, kickoff at 11 am, Cyclones Pre Game at 9 am on KSOM.
