KANSAS CITY – Shifting from Lawrence to Kansas City created a perfect setup for an I-35 matchup featuring two teams that came in with completely different stories. On one hand, Iowa State, one of the top ranked teams in the country, brought only a single blemish, following last week’s loss to Texas Tech, on their record at 7-1. In paradoxical fashion, Kansas flaunted their 2-6 record, including only one win in conference play. Looking to double their conference win total, Kansas came in hungry to get their offense rolling, but more importantly: execute in the fourth quarter after losing a majority of their competitions in fourth quarter collapses.
Coming into the game, Kansas running back Devin Neal sat inches away from a duo of school records. Coming in tied for the most rushing touchdowns and seven yards away from breaking the all-time rushing record, it was evident it would be a historic day for Neal. Iowa State won the toss and deferred the ball to the second half, meaning Kansas had the first opportunity to make a statement on offense first against the #9 ranked defense in the nation. Devin Neal did not take much time at all to grab the first of his two records, cranking out a fourteen yard run on the first play from scrimmage. His run brought his career total above the 3,841 yard mark set by June Henley, catapulting Neal into the history books.
Even with the historic opening play, the Kansas offense failed to move the ball much further, forcing them to punt the ball away on their opening drive. Iowa State, led by quarterback Rocco Becht, moved the Cyclone offense down the field and capped off their opening drive with a touchdown pass to Jaylin Noel.
KU, coming into the game, wanted to expose the coverages of Iowa State and executed on their second chance. It was not too far into the game when Kansas Quarterback Jalon Daniels found Luke Grimm on a post route. Grimm hauled in the ball and ran the rest of the way for a 70-yard touchdown score to knot the two teams up.
After that the unexpected happened. Iowa State coming in with their #9 defense is used to relying on that portion of their talent and putting very little pressure on their offense. The opposite was true in this scenario.
The Kansas offense went on a tear.
After the Grimm bomb for seventy yards, Kansas scored in their next four drives, including three touchdowns. The first of the three was a Devin Neal thirteen yard option scoring run that catapulted him into the lone spot atop the all-time Kansas rushing touchdown leaders. Passing June Henley once again for his second record-breaking run for Kansas, Neal continued his dominance in the ground game. The offense was catapulted by Neal, but the execution came from none other than Jalon Daiels. Daniels has had flashes of being very good throughout the year, but has failed to be consistent in any fashion, throwing a host of interceptions throughout the season, often coming in critical moments. Daniels returned to his prime self and executed on both simple and difficult throws, making him nearly unstoppable.
Iowa State kicked a second field goal to end the half, ending an impressive offensive stretch in which Kansas outscored Iowa State 31-3. Entering halftime, Kansas felt confident with their eighteen point lead, but remembered no lead is safe, especially this year.
Kansas and Iowa State both scored a touchdown apiece in the third quarter, leaving the fourth quarter to the same deficit Iowa State stared at coming out of the locker room at half.
Iowa State’s defense returned to their normal season form, forcing a stop on Kansas in the red zone. The following field goal attempt went wide right, seemingly shifting the momentum back to where it had been during the entirety of the fourth quarters for KU, on the other side line. Iowa state took that momentum and drove the ball down the field and scored a touchdown to tear away at the deficit. Following the 6-play, 80 yard touchdown drive ending in a touchdown pass to Jaylon Jackson, Rocco Becht ran the ball himself on the two-point attempt to bring the deficit down to ten.
Kansas retook possession, forcing the ball downfield, using as much time as they could to milk the clock. The climax of the drive was a third and six from the thirty-seven yard line. Daniels was quickly pressured by the Cyclones defense, threw it up and was not able to find his intended receiver, forcing Kansas to punt once again. A hint of another crumble began to inch into the minds of people across the seats of Arrowhead Stadium.
Down by ten with just under seven minutes remaining, Iowa State’s drive began at their own nine yard line. The idea of a potential crumble remained prevalent, even after a strong defensive showing on first down, but then something went wrong. This moment would normally be when Kansas fell apart, but on a crossing pass intended to the middle of the field jumped a hungry Mello Dotson. Dotson snagged the ball and followed his blockers into the endzone for a game-clinching score. The turnover silenced the doubts and presented Kansas with hope and a vision of what could have been with a seasoned team who executed their best game of the year in front of a mixed midwestern crowd. A late touchdown and a successful two-point conversion moved Iowa State back within shouting distance, but after a failed onside kick the expected seemed imminent. A second loss in as many games silenced the waning hopes of an Iowa State fanbase that was eyeing a playoff appearance. As the final moments ticked off the clock the scoreboard read 45-36, in favor of a Kansas squad who had been looking for a signature win all season. It took way too long in their opinion, but they finally got it.
UP NEXT
The Cyclones now prepare for a matchup against the middle-of-the-pack Bearcats of Cincinnati. The Jayhawks will head the opposite direction to Provo, Utah in an attempt to facilitate another upset against a top-ranked BYU squad, who has yet to lose a game in conference action this season.
