The Cy-Hawk Trophy is returning to Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State needed a last-second 42-yard field goal from kicker Cole Netten to claim a 20-17 victory over their arch-rivals, the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa State has now beaten Iowa three of the last four times.
The victory was vital for Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads. A week ago, the Cyclones were on the other side of a 32-28 outcome against the Kansas State Wildcats after Bill Snyder‘s squad scored a touchdown with 1:30 remaining to steal a victory. A loss to Iowa and a 0-3 start to the season could have been the beginning of the end of Rhoads’ tenure at Iowa State. The Cyclones were 3-11 since the start of last season prior to their victory in Iowa City. And the Cyclones’ upcoming schedule isn’t promising with No. 8 Baylor and Oklahoma State as the team’s next two opponents. An 0-5 start to the season would have been devastating for the program. Instead, Rhoads rallied his team to an impressive victory which can help build momentum.
On the other hand, Iowa may have lost their opportunity to sneak into the first College Football Playoff. The Hawkeyes were a popular choice as the darkhorse team to represent the Big Ten Conference in a New Year’s bowl game. Unfortunately, the loss to Iowa State is yet another example of Iowa falling to a program the Hawkeyes were expected to defeat. Games against the Maryland Terrapins, Northwestern Wildcats, Wisconsin Badgers and Nebraska Cornhuskers look far more difficult than they did prior to the start of the season.
The Hawkeyes were far too conservative in the second half, and they were simply outplayed by Iowa State. Cyclones quarterback Sam B. Richardson played exceptionally well. As the Cyclones’ running game sputtered, Richardson continued to make plays in the passing game. The junior quarterback was 25-of-37 for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was also 8-of-11 passing during Iowa State’s final two drives.
A simple twitpic will show exactly how much this game meant to Rhoads and his Cyclones:Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads celebrates his team’s 20-17 win over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. pic.twitter.com/200Zl5obB0
— David Scrivner (@davidscrivner) September 13, 2014