Iowa State stuns No. 2 Oklahoma State, 37-31

AMES - Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads predicted on Monday his team would need to play its best game, coupled with some Oklahoma State mistakes to spring “an unheard-of upset.”

Then, he said: “Anything is possible.”

Friday with ESPN on site and the entire college football world watching the Cyclones battle the No. 2 Cowboys, those hopeful words rang uncannily true - and carried into double overtime and finally a breathless, fans-on-the-field victory.

ISU overcame a 17-point third-quarter deficit behind a stout defense and resurgent offense, stunning Oklahoma State 37-31 in double overtime before 52,027.

Talk about bedlam - in dictionary terms.

Ter'Ran Benton's interception in the second overtime - ISU's fifth takeaway of the game - set the stage for the jaw-dropping game winner: Jeff Woody's four-yard touchdown run that sent a Cardinal and Gold mass streaming into the field.

The Cyclones had never beaten a team ranked higher than seventh nationally.

And it came in comeback fashion, ISU's fourth of the year.

The Cowboys led 24-7 before ISU crept closer on James White's 32-yard touchdown run with 10:05 left in the third quarter. Earlier in the drive, a near-touchdown catch by Darius Reynolds was ruled incomplete, to the crowd's chagrin.

Then Grant Mahoney perfectly executed an onside kick, which cornerback Jeremy Reeves recovered at the ISU 41.

Hope returned.

But a Jared Barnett fumble at the Cowboy's 10 - which was recovered barely inbounds at the four - doused the rekindled optimism.

Yet, hope resurfaced, when Leonard Johnson pounced on an Oklahoma State fumble at the 26.

The Cyclones overcame a Hayworth Hicks holding penalty and pulled within seven at 24-17 on Zach Guyer's 24-yard field goal with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

Surely, the Cowboys would strike fast and hard, right?

Nope.

Instead, ISU collected its fourth turnover - Leonard Johnson intercepted a Weeden pass tipped by Jake Lattimer at the Cyclone 40.

12:51 remained.

An eternity - for the Cyclones and the Cowboys.

A few stops on each side later, ISU's offense sprang back to life.

A 12-play, 89-yard drive capped by Albert Gary's seven-yard touchdown catch tied it.

OSU missed a 37-yard field goal attempt late in regulation. James White scored ISU's first touchdown in overtime.

ISU's defense shined, producing two of its five takeaways in the first 10 minutes 18 seconds.

Jacques Washington coaxed a fumble from Cowboys running back Joseph Randle and Jake Lattimer recovered at the 50-yard line.

Washington also snared an interception of a Weeden pass at the ISU 18 and returned it to the 20 with 4:42 left in the first quarter.

The Cyclone offense, however, failed to convert those takeaways into any points - and the drive that followed Washington's pick ended up giving Oklahoma State six points.

ISU (6-4, 3-4 Big 12) drove to the Cowboys' 28-yard line, but Barnett's first-down screen pass was read perfectly by OSU's Shaun Lewis, who stepped in and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.

After Oklahoma State went up 10-0, the Cyclones trudged 72 yards on their ensuing possession.

Barnett hit Darius Reynolds for a 16-yard touchdown and ISU - 27-point underdogs - trailed just 10-7 with 7:14 left before the break.

Then Weeden started clicking.

He completed six passes of 11 yards or less and connected with big-play receiver Justin Blackmon for a 27-yard touchdown to make the score 17-7.

Weeden, a 28-year-old former minor league baseball player, became Oklahoma State's all-time leading passer in the first half.

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