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Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy reprises starring role in Saturday's 16-13 over Iowa
Konrardy kicked a 54-yard field goal to put Iowa State ahead with 1:52 left on the clock
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AMES — The stunning sequel came with an additional one minute and 46 seconds of running time.
Not bonus material. Not a “Director’s Cut.” And with nary a “jump scare” in sight.
Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy simply reprised his role as the Cy-Hawk game’s strong-legged marquee star, drilling a 54-yard field goal to beat Iowa for the second year in a row on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 61,500 at Jack Trice Stadium.
“It’s awesome,” said Konrardy, whose game-winner last season came with six seconds left instead of with 1:52 remaining. “For (my teammates and coaches) to love me as much as I love them, is just really cool.”
The timing of Konrardy’s 54-yard plot twist wasn’t the only thing that felt different as the No. 16 Cyclones (3-0) beat the Hawkeyes (1-1) at home for the first time since 2011.
“It felt good when I hit it,” said Konrardy, who nailed a program-record 63-yard field goal in last week’s 55-7 win over South Dakota. “But when I looked up, it wasn’t as pretty.”
No matter. Movie star looks weren’t required for his second straight game winner against Iowa to pierce the wind and power through the uprights — but unlike last year, a true defensive stand was needed to ensure ISU would prevail for the third time in the past four meetings.
“Iowa took over at its own 24-yard line with 1:48 remaining, but after quarterback Mark Gronowski connected with tight end DJ Vonnahme for a six yard gain, Cyclone defensive end Tamatoa McDonough pounced, recording his first two sacks since transferring from Yale in rapid succession — and the subsequent fourth and 15 conversion attempt failed.
“He’s been a really powerful figure in our locker room,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said of McDonough, who didn’t join the team until May. “What he’s about, what his work ethic’s like, and to be able to watch some of things today — for really for our whole football — continuing to unfold under the lights of, man, powerful moments, big games, bug opportunities to come forward, and I think our team continues to have that resolve.”
It wasn’t always pretty. It rarely is, Campbell often stresses. But several Cyclones stood out in major moments as they notched their 19th win in the past 25 games:
Tight end Gabe Burkle
Two of the junior from Cedar Rapids Prairie’s threw catches came on what proved to be ISU’s game-winning drive — and one hinged on soaring to snap a deflected ball for a 17-yard gain. Burkle later caught a pop pass for 10 yards at the Iowa 39-yard line that allowed the Cyclones to center the ball for Konrardy’s latest starring turn with his leg.
“For me it was right place, right time,” Burkle said of his ricocheted reception. “I wasn’t really expecting the ball on that play, so I just kind of ran (and) got my eyes around, saw the ball get tipped up, and it was coming right at me, so I just kind of reacted.”
Quarterback Rocco Becht
The Cyclones’ third-year starting quarterback didn’t have a stellar day on the stat sheet (18 of 27 for 134 yards and one touchdown to tight end Ben Brahmer), but he did lead his team on his seventh-career comeback win tin the fourth quarter.
“It ranks up there,” Becht said of Saturday’s triumph. “But there should be an asterisk by it with Kyle being on the team and making those kids for us.”
Back to Konrardy
Every starring role births a catch-phrase — and in this case, it’s unprintable.
“(Blank) it,” is what Campbell told Konrardy before his most recent historic kicks.
Becht offered his own colorful description in his five-star review of Konrardy’s recurring role as headliner.
“For him to go out there and have balls of steel again and hit that kick, that was awesome,” Becht said.
Comments: robgray18@icloud.com
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