Iowa State football's offense falters again in loss to Oklahoma State
STILLWATER, Okla. - Iowa State kept on giving the ball away, and the Cyclones eventually gave the game away, too.
Oklahoma State, wounded by injuries and being outscored by a combined 85-16 the previous two weeks, forced five turnovers, got a heroic cameo from injured quarterback Spencer Sanders and defeated Iowa State, 20-14, on Saturday evening at Boone Pickens Stadium.
It was yet another blundering performance by an Iowa State offense that has time and again this season failed to even approach the excellence that the Cyclone defense has shown week after week.
Iowa State’s five turnovers – three Hunter Dekkers interceptions along with fumbles by Deon Silas and Sean Shaw – were the most for the Cyclones under coach Matt Campbell. Iowa State has not turned it over that many times in a game since committing six against Iowa in coach Paul Rhoads’ debut 2009 season.
That, though, wasn’t the full extent of the Cyclones’ struggles offensively.
Oklahoma State (7-3, 4-3) entered the game last in the Big 12 in total defense and ninth in scoring and rushing defense. Big 12 teams average 466 total yards, 175 rushing yards and 31.8 points.
Iowa State (4-6, 1-6) managed just 333, 59 and 14, respectively.
Recap:Cyclones lose another one-score game, this time to Oklahoma State
Still, Iowa State was leading in the fourth quarter until Spencer Sanders, who was believed to be available only in an emergency due to a shoulder injury, relieved starter Gunnar Gundy to lead the Cowboys on a go-ahead 63-yard drive with just over 9 minutes to play.
Iowa State turned it over on downs on their own 25 with 5 minutes to play when Dekkers tried to convert a 4th-and-short with a quarterback sneak out of the shotgun and was met at the line of scrimmage by the Cowboy defense.
Oklahoma State, though, was unable to land the knockout punch, settling for a field goal to go up 20-14 with just over 4 minutes to play.
Despite all the problems offensively, Iowa State nearly went ahead on the ensuing drive when Dekkers found Jaylin Noel wide open behind the defense, but the Iowa State receiver dropped what would have likely been a touchdown.
Iowa State ultimately punted on the drive.
The Cyclones got one final chance to win the game, and got deep into Oklahoma State territory, but could not find the end zone.
Xavier Hutchinson was the lone bright spot offensively as he became the Cyclones' all-time leading receiver with 244 career catches to pass Allen Lazard. He had 10 grabs for 106 yards against the Cowboys.
The Cyclones return home this week for their final home game of the season to play Texas Tech on Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football commits five turnovers in loss to Oklahoma State
