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Cyclones fall on Texas Tech in final seconds

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Cyclones fall on Texas Tech in final seconds

AMES – Iowa State football’s perfect start is over.

The Cyclones' seven-game winning streak ended Saturday, just one shy of the school record. They remain tied with the 1938 team and are off to the best start in program history.

Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) stunned the Cyclones (7-1, 4-1) in the final seconds when the Red Raiders stormed downfield and scored the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left. Tahj Brooks ran in from five yards out to give the Red Raiders a 23-22 victory over 10th-ranked Iowa State.

Iowa State scored its go-ahead score with 2:11 left when Rocco Becht, under pressure, made a pass to Carson Brown, who broke free for a 44-yard touchdown reception, giving the Cyclones a 22-17 lead.

Becht completed 23 of 39 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Higgins led receivers with 140 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. Jaylin Noel had six catches for 44 yards. Abu Sama had 74 yards on 13 carries. Carson Hansen, who had just one carry in the second half of the UCF game due to injury, returned to action and recorded 11 carries for 46 yards.

Myles Purchase and Darien Porter both intercepted on defense. JR Singleton, Marcus Neal and Joey Petersen each had a sack. Kicker Kyle Konrardy went 3-for-4 on field goal attempts from 49, 37 and 21 yards.

Texas Tech scored first in the second half with a 12-play, 98-yard drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown reception from Josh Kelly, putting the Red Raiders up 17 with 1:56 left in the third quarter :13 took the lead.

The Cyclones appeared to have succeeded in a third-down pass early in the drive that would have given Iowa State possession inside Texas Tech territory, but the interception was dismissed due to a defense penalty for illegal hands to the face. Texas Tech retained possession and was able to cap off the drive with a touchdown.

On the next drive, Iowa State almost answered. Sama broke free and gained 26 yards before being pushed off at the one-yard line. A first-and-goal false start penalty gave the Cyclones a boost and disrupted their momentum, forcing them to settle for a field goal. Konrardy made it 17:16, 12:23 before the end of the game.

Texas Tech's Behren Morton completed 21 of 40 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brooks had 122 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Kelly had eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. AJ McCarty had an interception and Chapman Lewis recovered a fumble for the Red Raiders.

Iowa State once again had to get out of an early deficit. The Cyclones gave up an opening touchdown for the fourth straight game as Texas Tech took a 7-0 lead after Morton hit an open touchdown pass from Kelly for a 35-yard touchdown pass.

Texas Tech nearly scored another touchdown late in the first quarter, but it was called back due to offensive pass interference. Red Raiders kicker Gino Garcia made a 44-yard field goal.

The Cyclones struggled offensively in the first half and had to settle for field goals. Konrardy converted from 49 and 37 yards. They attempted a fourth-down conversion deep in Texas Tech territory early in the second quarter, but the pass was incomplete.

Purchase was intercepted at the 50-yard line, giving the Cyclones an opportunity to score some points with 30 seconds left in the half. After a few completions, Becht spun out of danger and fired a ball to Higgins, who hauled in the pass for a 20-yard touchdown reception, giving Iowa State a 13-10 lead with four seconds left in the second quarter.

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

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