Iowa State football falls short at Oklahoma

The defenses lived in the backfield of the Iowa State-Oklahoma game on Saturday.

The Sooners had seven sacks against Iowa State, which had allowed just 12 all season. Meanwhile, the Cyclones prodcued four sacks and nine tackles for loss.

Oklahoma’s pressure was too much for Iowa State to overcome as the 13th-ranked Sooners beat the Cyclones 28-21

At one point, Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy was taking such a beating that he missed two drives while he was in the locker room getting checked out for a possible injury.

Hunter Dekkers took over for Purdy with the Cyclones (6-5, 4-4) down 21-7.

On Dekkers’ second pass, he threw an interception. On the ensuing Oklahoma (9-1, 6-1) possession, the Cyclones returned the favor when linebacker Jake Hummel tipped a Caleb Williams pass, which was intercepted by Craig McDonald.

Iowa State capitalized thanks to some incredible plays by key players.

Kicker, punter and placekicker Andrew Mevis gained 29 yards on a fake punt to keep Iowa State’s dive alive. A few plays later, on third down, running back Breece Hall made a stunning one-handed, diving catch in coverage. Dekkers then found tight end Chase Allen in the middle of the field, who drug four Oklahoma defenders into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.

After that drive, Purdy returned from the locker room and took over for Dekkers, who finished completing 5 of 9 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a warrior,” Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar said of Purdy on the Cyclone Radio Network. “I was worried about him — I just hope he’s doing alright. I love him. He embodies what it means to be a warrior and a football player. I can never be mad at Brock because I know he puts everything he has into every play.”

On Purdy’s first drive returning from the locker room, Iowa State went three-and-out.

Oklahoma capitalized thanks to running back Kennedy Brooks. Brooks had 46 rushing yards on three carries to put Oklahoma within the 10-yard line. Fellow running back Eric Gray finished the job Brooks started and scored on a 7-yard touchdown run to extend the lead back to seven with five minutes left.

The ISU offensive line finally found its footing and gave Purdy plenty of time. Purdy found Kolar early and often. Kolar, from Norman, Okla., had three catches for 44 yards on the drive, including the touchdown catch to bring Iowa State within a score.

The Iowa State defense forced a three-and-out and the Cyclones had two minutes to try to tie the game.

Purdy once again went back to Kolar early and often. Kolar had five catches for 79 yards on the final drive, getting Iowa State down to Oklahoma’s 21-yard line. After a spike and two incompletions, the game was on the line on fourth-and-10.

Purdy was under pressure but had an open Allen, but the ball sailed and was intercepted by Oklahoma’s Patrick Fields, which essentially ended the game. Oklahoma took a knee and the game was over.

“Let’s tip our hats to Oklahoma, that’s the best defensive front in the Big 12,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said on the Cyclone Radio Network. “Yet our guys never flinched. Bad things happened and our guys kept playing. We had our chances but from a precision and detail standpoint we didn’t take advantage.”

Purdy finished with 281 yards on 30-of-41 passing, a touchdown and an interception.

Kolar, in his last Big 12 road game and his last trip back home to Norman, had the best game of his career, catching a career-high 12 catches for a career high 151 yards and two touchdowns.

“It’s nice to be home but I try to treat every week the same,” Kolar said. “The loss hurts and I don’t try to reach for extra motivation but obviously it is my hometown and I’m excited to be back.”

Defensively, Mike Rose had a strong game for the Cyclones, recording six tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.

Iowa State closes out the regular season on Friday against TCU in Ames.