AMES, Iowa — The Iowa State Cyclones nearly pulled off a stunner on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately fell to the 6th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats 27-21 at Jack Trice Stadium.
In the rivalry known as Farmageddon, Kansas State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) has maintained the edge for five straight years, with an average margin of victory of 5.8 points. The Wildcats have had to claw their way out of tight-knit ballgames against the Cyclones, and this year was no exception.
The Cats struck first, but Iowa State (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) responded with authority. The Cyclones ended the first quarter with a 57-yard touchdown drive. A TD pass from sophomore quarterback Jared Barnett to junior running back Shontrelle Johnson gave the Clones a 7-3 lead at the start of the second quarter.
K-State answered with a loud TD of their own, capping a 74-yd drive with a 2-yd rushing TD by senior QB Collin Klein.
The Cats led 10-7 with 7:21 left in the second quarter, when a muffed punt gave the Cyclones the ball at K-State’s 19-yd line. On the next play, Wildcats junior defensive back Ty Zimmerman nullified the turnover with an interception at the goal line.
Barnett hooked up with junior tight end Ernst Brun Jr. for a 30-yd TD pass to put Iowa State back up 14-10, but K-State regained the lead just before half. Klein’s 6-yd TD run gave the Cats a 17-14 with less than a minute to play in the first half.
Klein rushed for his third TD of the day to give the Cats a 24-14 cushion with 1:33 to play in the third quarter. Iowa State answered with a 75-yd TD drive. Junior RB Jeff Woody’s 2-yd TD run narrowed the gap to 24-21 with 12:34 left in the fourth quarter.
Klein finished the game with 25 carries for 105 yards and three rushing TD’s. Klein also completed 16 of 24 passes for 187 yards.
K-State hits the road for a showdown with QB Geno Smith and the No. 5 West Virginia Mountaineers next Saturday night in Morgantown.
