Recap: Iowa State football falls short in comeback bid at Oklahoma

Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell pulled out all the stops during Saturday’s showdown with Oklahoma. The usually conservative Campbell unloaded trick plays from his playbook, used a fake punt and went for it on fourth down multiple times.

It still wasn’t enough.

Iowa State suffered a 28-21 loss to No. 11 Oklahoma at Gaylord Family/Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Saturday. The Cyclones fell to 6-5 on the season and 4-4 in Big 12 Conference play.

With their Big 12 title hopes out of the picture, the Cyclones didn’t hold anything back. Campbell gambled throughout the day as the Cyclones, who have fell short of many of the high hopes fans had for them this season, tried to pick up a huge road win in Norman, Okla.

Some of those rolls of the dice worked. Among them: A fake punt by Andrew Mevis resulted in a first down. The Cyclones also converted on fourth down 5-of-7 times. But all the tricks couldn’t complete the comeback for Iowa State which trailed most of the game.

Iowa State's final shot at completing the comeback ended with quarterback Brock Purdy getting picked off with 15 seconds remaining.

POSTGAME: Matt Campbell on Iowa State's aggressive playcalling

POSTGAME: Brock Purdy injury update

POSTGAME: Matt Campbell comments

POSTGAME: Final Iowa State stats

• Passing: Brock Purdy 30-41-281-1, Hunter Dekkers 5-9-29-1.

• Rushing: Breece Hall 19-58, Andrew Mevis 1-29.

• Receiving: Charlie Kolar 12-152, Xavier Hutchinson 7-48.

FINAL: Oklahoma 28, Iowa State 21

What a game that was.

.15/4Q - Brock Purdy gets picked off

Iowa State's comeback fall short as Brock Purdy gets intercepted on fourth down. The Cyclones are out of timeouts so that will do it

.23/4Q - Another fourth down

Iowa State facing another fourth down. Here we go.

.37/4Q - Charlie Kolar comes up clutch

Kolar hauls in a huge reception for a first down. Iowa State is still going.

.47/4Q - It all comes down to this

Iowa State facing a fourht-and-7 while trailing by seven. Oklahoma takes a timeout. Iowa State needs a first down to keep the game going.

2:00/4Q - Iowa State is going to get the ball back

The Cyclones defense comes up with a big three and out. Oklahoma will punt. Iowa State has one timeout left. What a game.

2:57/4Q - Iowa State makes it a 28-21 game

Don't go anywhere. Iowa State is still in this game. Brock Purdy's 2-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Kolar makes it a one possession game. Cyclones still have all three timeouts remaining...

5:06/4Q - Oklahoma takes a 28-14 lead

That could be the dagger. Eric Gray reaches the end zone with a 6-yard rushing touchdown to pad Oklahoma's lead. Seems like it's too big of a lead for Iowa State's offense, which has struggled all day, to come back from with this little time.

7:34/4Q - Iowa State forced to punt

Time is ticking on the Cyclones who put together a quick series with Brock Purdy back on the field. Iowa State is forced to punt. Cyclones defense, which has been great today, has to come up with another stop.

8:40/4Q - If Iowa State comes back to win this game...

This might be the play of the game. It's the big catch from Breece Hall.

9:00/4Q - Brock Purdy back in the game

Iowa State's defense forces an Oklahoma punt. And here comes Brock Purdy who briefly left the game with an apparent injury.

10:48/4Q - Brock Purdy good to go

Brock Purdy has his helmet on and is warming up. Looks like he's coming back into the game.

10:52/4Q - Iowa State pulls to within 21-14 of Oklahoma

Hunter Dekkers fires a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chase Allen and the Cyclones are in business. Oklahoma looked like it was about to finish off the Cyclones a few minutes ago after Dekkers' interception.

11:14/4Q - Hall's huge catch

Iowa State converts on fourth down thanks to a huge one-handed catch by Breece Hall. Wow.

12:59/4Q - Iowa State pulling out all the stops

The Cyclones run a fake punt with Andrew Mevis who takes off for a 29-yard run and the first down. When is the last time Iowa State gambled this much? Likely never in the Matt Campbell era.

End of the 3Q - Oklahoma 21, Iowa State 7

Iowa State just converted on fourth down thanks to a quarterback keeper by Hunter Dekkers. If the Cyclones are going to rally from the deficit, it looks like Dekkers, the backup quarterback, is going to have to lead the charge.

1:53/3Q - Iowa State gets a huge turnover

Jake Hummel appeared to tip the pass and Craig McDonald picked it off. Boy, did Iowa State need that. The Cyclones were entering a dangerous spot in the game.

3:41/3Q - Dekkers gets picked off

Dekkers third pass of the game was a horrible one. The lefty left the pocket, threw off his back foot and to a wide open Oklahoma defender. Second turnover of the day for the Cyclones who are in a ton of trouble now.

3:57/3Q - Hunter Dekkers comes into the game

The backup quarterback takes over for Brock Purdy who reportedly went back to the locker room. Dekkers came into the game during a late second half deficit against Iowa as well.

4:02/3Q - Oklahoma takes a 21-7 lead

Mario Williams hauls in an impressive 11-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to pad Oklahoma's lead. This seems like a pretty big series coming up for the Cyclones.

4:40/3Q - Brock Purdy heads back to the locker room

The Iowa State quarterback has taken some hard hits today. Something to keep an eye on.

7:08/3Q - Iowa State comes up short on fourth down

Iowa State decided to gamble on fourth down for the second time today and this time it backfires. Brock Purdy comes up short and Oklahoma takes over on its own 36-yard line. Cyclones just can't seem to get anyhing going offensively.

10:36/3Q - Will McDonald breaks his own record

The Iowa State defensive end tallied another sack. He's got 11.0 on the season, breaking his own single season school record. It forces Oklahoma to punt.

12:16/3Q - Brock Purdy needs some help

The Iowa State quarterback, who has been under pressure all day, has been sacked six times. The line is giving no chance for plays to develop or Purdy time to make anything happen. It leads to another Iowa State punt.

14:14/3Q - Mike Rose comes up big again

What a game for Rose who has another sack on third down and forces an Oklahoma punt. Third sack of the game for Iowa State. Strong start to the second half for the Cyclones on defense.

HALFTIME: Iowa State stats

• Passing: Brock Purdy 15-18-115-0.

• Rushing: Breece Hall 10-48, Xavier Hutchinson 2-10.

• Receiving: Jaylin Noel 4-30, Charlie Kolar 3-25, Xavier Hutchinson 3-16.

HALTIME: Oklahoma 14, Iowa State 7

What a disastrous end to the first half for Iowa State. And even worse for the Cyclones: Oklahoma gets the ball to start the second half.

.9/2Q - Oklahoma takes a 14-7 lead

Iowa State will stumble to halftime after Brock Purdy coughs up the football. It leads to a scoop and score big man touchdown for Oklahoma. Wow.

1:31/2Q - Hunter Dekkers comes into the game for one play

Dekkers comes in for one snap, a quick pass to Noel who tossed it back to Dekkers. It ends up being a penalty for an illegal pass. Purdy coming back into the game. Iowa State pulling out all the stops today.

5:29/2Q - Doink!

Oklahoma's 25-yard field goal attempt, a chip shot, hits off the crossbars. Game still tied. What a half this has been.

8:35/2Q - Iowa State punts

Brock Purdy getting absolutely no help. Oklahoma winning the battles in the trenches on both sides.

10:09/2Q - Things are getting a little chippy

An unsportsmanlike conduct call went against Oklahoma earlier in the drive. And we've had some pushing and shoving after a few plays.

11:47/2Q - Matt Campbell rolls the dice

The Iowa State coach decides to go for on it on 4th-and-1 deep in their own territory. And the Cyclones get it on a carry by Breece Hall. What a gutsy call by Campbell early in the game and on the road.

13:35/2Q - Brock Purdy still in the game

That's worth noting since Purdy got absolutely lit up during Iowa State's last series. Purdy hasn't had much from his offensive line early on.

14:00/2Q - Oklahoma forced to punt again

Outside of that big play by Caleb Williams on Oklahoma's opening drive, Iowa State's defense has been dominating. Mike Rose has as well, coming up with two big stops on third down.

End of the 1Q - Iowa State 7, Oklahoma 7

That was a wild first quarter. A big play by Oklahoma. A couple of interesting reviews. Should be a wild rest of the day.

.54/1Q - Brock Purdy takes a brutal hit

The Iowa State quarterback just took a brutal hit as he got out of the pocket and raced back toward the middle of the field. Officials took a look at it to see if it was targeting. It was not. FOX's television crew agrees with the call. Either way, wow. You've got to admire the toughness of Brock Purdy who got right back up.

2:50/1Q - Mike Rose with a huge sack

The Iowa State linebacker has been dinged up this season and been limited at times because of the injury. But Rose just came up with a huge sack that capped off a nice hold by the Iowa State defense. Oklahoma punts. Iowa State, which struggled in the first half last week, already looking monumentally better on both sides of the ball early in the game.

9:13/1Q - Iowa State forced to punt

Iowa State's second drive of the game had plenty of promise including a nice flea flicker pass to Xavier Hutchinson. But two first down plays were brought back after penalties and the Cyclones are forced to punt.

7:52/1Q - Lets take a look at that Breece Hall touchdown

9:13/1Q - Oklahoma ties the game 7-7

Well, any momentum Iowa State had after that first drive has quickly disappeared. Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams just took off for a 74-yard touchdown run on the second offensive play of the game for the Sooners. Not a good sign early on for Iowa State's defense which has struggled early in games lately.

10:00/1Q - Iowa State takes a 7-0 lead

Iowa State takes advantage of the big break. Breece Hall reaches the end zone with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Hall now has a rushing touchdown in 23-straight games which ties an FBS record. Pretty impressive opening drive for the Cyclones who marched 75 yards down the field.

10:10/1Q - The review is in

Joseph Scates is credited with a catch but officials ruled that he fumbled the ball. Iowa State keeps the ball since they determined it touched an Oklahoma player on the way out. Iowa State gets the ball on the goal line.

10:10/1Q - A key review

Officials are taking a look at a deep ball to Joseph Scates. Scates nearly hauled in a touchdown grab but had the ball ripped out of his hands. The booth is looking at when the ball came out.

10:55 a.m. - Breece Hall is chasing history

If Breece Hall reaches the end zone with a rushing touchdown today, he'll etch his name in NCAA history.

10:17 a.m. - Iowa State injury update

It looks like offensive lineman Sean Foster won't be playing. Foster's playing time has dipped this season but the Cyclones could still use some depth on the offensive line.

Read more Iowa State football news

• The switch that nearly saved Iowa State football against Texas Tech: 'That was a unique challenge'

• Peterson: Iowa State/Big 12 predictions and a coaching carousel

• Iowa State football's Blake Peterson, other young players making moves on Cyclones' defense

• 'Beauty in the struggle': Iowa State gears up for final two games despite disappointment

• Peterson: Who's the face of Iowa State football? It's dependable, durable and never-quit Chase Allen

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Recap from Iowa State football vs. Oklahoma: Sooners survive, 28-21