Iowa State Football Stuns No. 24 Oklahoma State In A Shootout

Iowa State's first signature win of the Jimmy Rogers era has arrived. 

The Cyclones entered a Halloween matchup against No. 24 Oklahoma State as a heavy underdog, but you wouldn't have known it on Saturday. Iowa State had little trouble moving the football against a mediocre Cowboy defense, tallying 581 yards of total offense en route to a 51-49 win at Jack Trice Stadium that was capped by a game-winning field goal by Kyle Konrardy. 

The Cyclones improve to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 play with the victory and now have a very real chance at making a bowl game in what was expected to be a rebuilding season. 

Iowa State felt like it had a chance to exploit Oklahoma State's average defense entering this game, and exploit it did in this first half. One week after mustering just three points against Arizona, Jaylen Raynor and Co. didn't miss a beat in the first half of this one. 

The Cyclones orchestrated a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to begin this game, a drive that saw Raynor complete passes of 27 and seven yards, respectively. Running back Aiden Flora capped off the drive with a 29-yard touchdown sprint, and the Cowboys knew that it wasn't going to be an easy game after that. 

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker and Oklahoma State scored a touchdown on three of their four possessions in the half, but the story of the early portion of this game was Iowa State playing like it had nothing to lose. Jimmy Rogers surprised the Cowboys with an onside kick after tying the game at 14, and he later went for it on 4th-and-1 from his own 34 a few possessions later. 

Oklahoma State helped with a few mistakes - a muffed punt and missed field goal - but the first half momentum clearly belonged to Iowa State, which led 24-21 at the break. 

Iowa State's defense was gashed throughout the first, but it came through with a big stop to open the second half. This was one of those games that came down to which defense got the most stops, and the Cyclone offense immediately took advantage with a Raynor rushing touchdown to grab a 10-point lead, 31-21. A 53-yard pass to freshman Jamal Polite Jr. helped set up the score, and suddenly Iowa State was in the driver's seat. 

But don't tell that to the Cowboys. Star running back Caleb Hawkins found a wide-open hole on the left side and rode it all the way for a 75-yard score to make it a 31-28 ballgame, but that's where things really turned in Iowa State's favor. 

The Cyclones answered right back with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Pettaway on their next possession, energizing the crowd at Jack Trice Stadium. Oklahoma State was forced to punt on its next drive, and with a 10-point lead already intact, Iowa State could sense it. 

Mestemaker fired back with a 41-yard bomb, but Flora decided it was time for him to join the party. The former walk-on fired back with a 75-yard touchdown run to make it a two-score game again, 45-35.

OSU appeared dead on its next drive, but Mestemaker saved it by reaching for a first down on a 4th-and-3 scramble. Hawkins scored on the Cowboys' next possession to make it a three point game again, but it was up to their defense to give them the ball back. 

Oklahoma State delivered, but Mestemaker gave it right back to Iowa State by throwing an interception right to Beau Goodwin on the Cowboys' second play of the drive. The Cyclones had a chance to put the game on ice with a touchdown, but failed to do so. 

It didn't matter because of Kyle Konrardy's late-game heroics, though. Iowa State is a big-time victor on Halloween night. 

The Cyclones return to action next Saturday, Nov. 7, for a road matchup against Baylor in Waco, Texas. The Bears were mired in turmoil earlier this year that led to the firing of head coach Dave Aranda, but interim head coach Joe Klanderman rallied Baylor to a dominant 41-9 victory at UCF on Friday night. 

Kick time and TV destination from McLane Stadium will be announced later this weekend.