Working Woody x 3

AMES - Jeff Woody burrowed.

Twisted.

Slammed into defenders.

Iowa State's human battering ram - a.k.a. fullback - shouldered the responsibility of finishing the most stunning victory in Cyclone history Friday with physical grit and between-the-ears determination.

He displayed both attributes: Bouncing and plowing for 25 yards on three carries in double overtime, finally tumbling into the end zone in a heap, secure in the knowledge those six points had battened down a shocking 37-31 win over No. 2 Oklahoma State.

“The only picture that I have from it is crossing the end zone, turning around, looking up and seeing (offensive lineman) Hayworth (Hicks) and knowing exactly what just happened,” said Woody, who rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries for the now bowl-eligible Cyclones (6-4, 3-4 Big 12). “When I was going, I couldn't really piece it together because it's just another play. Once you get in the end zone, you realize the significance of what happened.”

ISU's biggest win ever, that's what.

The Cyclones - who were 27-point underdogs - entered the game 0-56-2 historically against teams ranked in the top six of the Associated Press poll.

Coach Paul Rhoads will lead his team in a bowl game for the second time in three years.

ISU gained 568 yards on 101 offensive plays, one snap short of tying a school record.

And the defense effectively posted 10 stops against one of the nation's most incendiary offenses, forcing four punts, one fourth-down failure, and the five turnovers.

“Unreal,” said Cyclone free safety Jacques Washington, who forced a fumble and grasped an interception in the first quarter. “A great experience. I'm still shocked right now, but we believed we could do it.”

The Cowboys (10-1, 7-1) led 24-7 with 12:33 left in the third quarter.

ISU calmly, with the help of two of its five takeaways, chopped the deficit down, first to 24-14 on James White's 32-yard touchdown run.

Then, after an onside kick, to 24-17, on Zach Guyer's 24-yard field goal.

Finally, the Cyclones pulled even at 24-24 on Albert Gary's sliding seven-yard touchdown catch with 5:30 left.

Oklahoma State had a chance to win the game in regulation, but crack kicker Quinn Sharp's 37-yard field goal attempt with 1:17 left was ruled to have sailed wide right.

Whew, went the crowd.

Now, said the Cyclones.

“As a team, we knew,” said ISU quarterback Jared Barnett, who racked up 460 yards of total offense - 376 passing, 84 rushing, the third highest compilation in school history. “We were ready. Of course, people are doubting us, but as a team and in the locker room we knew what was going on. We knew we were going to come out and win this football game.”

OSU's Josh Cooper matched White's touchdown in the first overtime.

Then the Cowboys' celebrated senior quarterback Brandon Weeden, who became the program's all-time leading passer with a 476-yard, three touchdown, two interception effort, tried to push his team to the lead.

But a tipped pass fell into a diving Ter'Ran Benton's hands for an interception, setting the stage for Woody's prideful push to history.

“When he scored, I just ran all over the field, went crazy,” said ISU cornerback Jeremy Reeves, who had nine tackles.

He wasn't alone.

Fervid fans - fragments of a crowd of 52,027 at Jack Trice Stadium - flooded the field.

Players dodged, then hugged them.

ESPN announcers pronounced it “BCS chaos.”

And that trumps bedlam any day.

“It's the best crowd I've ever been trapped in,” Woody said.