Nov 30, 2019; Manhattan, KS, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy (15) throws the ball against Kansas State Wildcats defensive tackle Trey Dishon (99) during the first quarter of a game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
For the third straight season, Iowa State fans will travel to support their team in a bowl game, but this time it will come after a disappointing loss to Kansas State.
The Wildcats had the Cyclones number all night in a 27-17 Farmageddon victory for KSU, starting from the opening whistle.
“They out-physical’d us today, senior Julian Good-Jones said. “They just played really hard really well. Credit to them. That’s a great team.”
Iowa State opted to kick-off to a known dangerous returner in Joshua Youngblood to start the game off, and he took advantage, marching it to the house.
It gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead 13 seconds into the game, and it didn’t get much better.
Kansas State went on to win their 11th game in the past 12 seasons against the Cyclones, with Iowa State’s lone win being last year on senior night.
One of the biggest things that hurt the Cyclones were penalties, all evening.
Coach Matt Campbell’s team, that is usually well-disciplined, accounted for eight penalties amounting to 55 yards on the night.
“We certainly struggled a great deal to put ourselves in position to win the football game,” Campbell said. “Our penalties and [lack of] discipline hurt us tonight.”
Kansas State took a 14-0 lead in the second half when running back Jordan Wright took off for a 12-yard rush for the touchdown.
It capped off a 98-yard drive for the Wildcats, something Cyclone fans have rarely seen in the Jon Heacock era.
Iowa State had more than enough fight in them to come back though. It’s not like a Campbell team to sit and fold when the going gets tough.
Iowa State would capitalize on a long punt return from Tarique Milton that put the offense into K-State territory to start the drive.
Big plays from Chase Allen and Breece Hall got the Cyclones close enough to see quarterback Brock Purdy find Sean Shaw Jr. in the end zone.
The Iowa State defense got a gift on a third down on the ensuing drive for Kansas State, after a wideout dropped a pass over the middle, forcing the Wildcats to punt.
A 60-yard play from Tarique Milton help set up Hall, who eventually found his way to pay dirt on fourth and goal from the one.
Iowa State had tied the game with 40 seconds remaining in the first half and would get the ball back to start the second.
As was the theme on Saturday, though, the Cyclones wouldn’t be able to capitalize.
Two third-quarter turnovers couldn’t even get Iowa State a big break, and it settled for trading field goals with KSU.
They entered the final frame in a 17-17 tie before Wildcats quarterback Skylar Thompson had anything to say about it.
Thompson and his offense ran the ball on the Cyclone ‘D,’ and rushed into the end zone to take a 24-17 lead.
Kansas State would put through a field goal and stop the Cyclones offense on the next drive to ice the game.
“I think the reality of it is, you don’t want to put this group out this way,” Campbell said. “These kids care. The honest answer is that you can still go back one more time and fix it. You still get to go out and try to be the best version of you that this team can be. We’ve been close this year, but we haven’t done it.”
With the loss, Iowa State drops to 7-5 on the season, and it’s going to leave a sour taste in the mouths of Iowa State fans for the next week.
The team won’t find out its bowl destination until December 8, during the NCAA Football Selection Show.
For seniors like Good-Jones, though, regardless of Saturday night, another night on the field is important.
“I mean yeah, that’s everything,” Good-Jones said. “You take everything away and you still have one more. That means the most. These guys are my brothers and to go out and get one more month with them [is great].”
