Five Oklahoma State football takeaways after Iowa State overwhelms Cowboys' defense

AMES — For a change, Oklahoma State‘s offense put the defense in a tough spot.

OSU fell to Iowa State 51-49.

OSU tied the game with 53 seconds left on a misdirection pitch pass to Wyatt Young. Just a couple plays after being on the receiving end of an unnecessary roughness call, Young ran to the Iowa State stands in his celebration and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play that was assessed on the kickoff. Cowboy Joseph Kim kicked off from the 15-yard line and got the ball to the other 15. Cyclone Carson Robbins’ 22-yard return set ISU up from the 37.

A 33-yard pass to freshman receiver Jamal Polite got strong-legged kicker Kyle Konrardy in field-goal range. Konrardy made a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired.

OSU’s defense struggled throughout much of the second half and gave up 27 points after halftime.

Iowa State put up 581 total yards of offense, passing for 309 and rushing for 272.

Iowa State ran four plays that gained least 40 yards. This was the same Cyclone team that scored three points and accumulated 221 total yards last week against Arizona.

Here are takeaways from the game:

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Special teams fails Oklahoma State

Special teams has been a strength for the Cowboys. It failed them Saturday.

Kicker Sam Keltner missed a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter, his first miss of the season, wasting prime field position set up by LaDainian Fields’ interception. 

Iowa State recovered a surprise onside kick in the second quarter. Three plays later, Cyclone receiver Jamal Polite caught a 43-yard touchdown. 

Late in the second quarter, OSU’s Bobby Deal Jr. muffed a punt return, attempting to make a diving catch on a short punt. ISU scored a field goal off it to end the half.

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Just like in 2011, an onside kick helped the Cyclones upset the Cowboys. 

It was the first onside kick an opponent has recovered against the Cowboys this season.

After the Cyclones scored a touchdown on the first drive of the second quarter, Konrardy squibbed a kick straight ahead and followed his blockers up the middle of the field and recovered the kick. 

OSU had five players spread across the front line of its kick coverage formation and the kick found a soft spot in the middle on the ISU logo. 

Cowboy safety Cooper Lai was in the middle of the front wall on kick coverage and was blown up by multiple Cyclones.

Cowboys get first quarter lead, but still trail at halftime

The Cowboys led 14-7 after the first quarter on Saturday. That’s an improvement.

OSU had trailed after the first quarter in each Big 12 game this season.

Against West Virginia: Trailed 7-3

Against UCF: Trailed 14-7

Against Houston: Trailed 7-3

Against Colorado: Trailed 14-7

OSU’s first-quarter lead didn’t last long. Two touchdowns and an onside kick recovery in the first five minutes of the second quarter swung momentum back in Iowa State’s favor. 

At halftime, OSU trailed 24-21. OSU has now been tied or trailing at halftime of all five Big 12 games. 

Caleb Hawkins can do everything

Caleb Hawkins rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns. He caught six passes for 81 yards and a score.

Short yardage and long breakaways, Hawkins did it all.

He had a 59-yard touchdown reception. He had a 75-yard rushing touchdown.

On the Cowboys’ go-ahead drive that started with 2:56 left, Hawkins got the ball or was targeted nine times.

Since the Houston game, when Hawkins caught seven passes for 125 yards, he has topped 70 receiving yards in three consecutive games. 

Ben Hutchens covers OSU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ben? He can be reached at bhutchens@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ben_hutchens_. Sign up for OSU Sports Minute newsletter to access more coverage of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Support Ben’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Five Oklahoma State football takeaways after Iowa State overwhelms Cowboys’ defense