Still discussing ISU’s fake PAT

AMES - Time to move on.

Paul Rhoads provided his postscript Monday to Iowa State's disappointing, 31-30, overtime loss to Nebraska, once again defending his decision to go for a game-winning two-point conversion while looking forward to Saturday's critical game at last-place Colorado.

It was a gut-wrenching defeat, yet one that's provided motivation.

“I don't know if I've ever looked forward to coming to work more than I did Sunday,” Rhoads said. “I couldn't wait to get in and get around our players.”

The Cyclones (5-5, 3-3 Big 12) would have found themselves atop the North Division had holder Daniel Kuehl's pass found its way to wide open tight end Collin Franklin on the fake PAT.

Rhoads reiterated during his weekly meeting with reporters that the decision to put the game in Kuehl's hands was made before the overtime coin toss, and was done with considerable scouting.

Husker defender Eric Hagg stepped in front of Kuehl's wobbly pass and left ISU still one victory shy of bowl eligibility with two games remaining in the regular season.

Opinions were mixed on the coach's gamble.

“We were playing to win,” Rhoads said. “We made a sound decision to end the game on one play. I knew the play, if executed well, was there.”

Rhoads seems to be developing a bit of a reputation as a gambler.

The Cyclones have run four “trick” plays this season. Three of them - a fake field goal, a fake punt and an onside kick - have worked.

“Every one we have run has been well-designed, well-conceived and run at strategic times in the game,” Rhoads said. “For the most part we've had great success with those plays. I don't know if that's gutsy or smart football.”

The Buffaloes (3-6, 0-5) surely will be ready for anything and everything this weekend.

Pump fake

Rhoads said Monday he called a fake field goal at the close of the first half, but decided against it. It turned out well, as Grant Mahoney's 57-yard try split the uprights for a 10-7 ISU lead.

Nebraska had the play sniffed out.

“They were in a safe alignment and that's why I called a timeout to get us out of it and kick the field goal,” Rhoads said.

Ben is back

It was a gutty performance from senior center Ben Lamaak, who returned to the starting lineup last Saturday after missing a week with a sprained knee.

The former Cedar Rapids Kennedy standout played about 75 percent of the offensive snaps.

“The times he came out were due to a lack of conditioning for not really doing anything the previous two weeks,” Rhoads said. “He was hurting. To go out and play against that defensive line and be able to execute at a high level like he did ... He wasn't going to miss this game.”

Rhoads said Lamaak graded out as ISU's second-best lineman against the Huskers.

Game time

ISU's Nov. 20 regular-season finale against Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium will kick off at 6 p.m. and be televised by Fox Sports Net.