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No. 11 Iowa State loses its first game of the season, falling 23-22 to Texas Tech in the final seconds

No. 11 Iowa State loses its first game of the season, falling 23-22 to Texas Tech in the final seconds

AMES, IA – NOVEMBER 2: Running back Abu Sama III #24 of the Iowa State Cyclones rushes for yards while defensive lineman Trevon McAlpine #95 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends during the first half of the game at Jack Trice Stadium on November 2. 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)

No. 11 Iowa State held off Texas Tech on Saturday in Ames, Iowa, remaining undefeated at 8-0. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)

No. 11 Iowa State suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Texas Tech 23-22 on a five-yard touchdown run by Tahj Brooks with 19 seconds left in the game.

With the loss, the Cyclones drop to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12, falling behind No. 9 BYU (5-0, 8-0) and tied with No. 17 Kansas State.

The Red Raiders drove 71 yards in 12 plays with 1:41 left to give the go-ahead score. A two-point conversion attempt to gain a three-point lead failed.

Texas Tech reached the 1-yard line with 35 seconds left on a 13-yard pass from Behren Morton to Jordan Brown. But a false start penalty on the next play pushed the offense back to the 5-yard line. However, Brooks scored two plays later.

With just over two minutes left, the Cyclones took a 22-17 lead. Rocco Becht hit Carson Brown for a 44-yard catch-and-run that put the Cyclones on top after much of the fourth quarter. That was Brown's only reception of the game.

Texas Tech had two chances to take the lead in the final two minutes of the game, but Behren Morton first knocked down an open Josh Kelly for what would have been a 60-yard score. On a 49-yard pass attempt, Kelly failed to make another reception in the end zone.

Kelly completed eight receptions for 127 yards with his two touchdowns. Morton passed for 237 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, completing 21 of 40 passes. Brooks rushed for 122 yards and scored on 25 carries. Texas Tech improves to 4-2 in the Big 12 and 6-3 overall.

The Cyclones were on their way to the go-ahead score, but strangely called for a quarterback run on 3rd-and-10 from the Texas Tech 32-yard line. Becht gained just one yard at right tackle, forcing Iowa State to settle for a 51-yard field goal attempt.

However, Kyle Konrardy missed and shot the ball wide to the right.

Texas Tech took a 7-0 lead on its first possession and capped a 72-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Behren Morton to a wide-open Josh Kelly.

Later in the third quarter, the two connected on a 19-yard score, giving the Red Raiders a 17-13 lead.

For Iowa State, Becht completed 22 of 38 passes for 327 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jayden Higgins had 10 catches for 149 yards and a score, while Jaylin Noel contributed six catches for 68 yards. Abu Sama III led the Cyclones with 74 yards rushing on 13 carries, and Carson Hansen ran for 46 yards on 11 carries.

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