Oklahoma State football wastes big nights from Caleb Hawkins, Justin Bowick | Report card

AMES, IA — Cyclones fans stormed the field after Kyle Konrardy’s kick split the uprights for the walk-off win. 

Iowa State beat Oklahoma State 51-49 on Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium. A Halloween loss that will haunt the Cowboys. 

Let’s get to the grades: 

OSU special teams: F 

The Cowboys missed a field goal, allowed an onside kick recovery and muffed a punt. All in the first half. 

OSU’s usually reliable special teams unit had an off night. 

Kicker Sam Keltner was a perfect 18 for 18 on field goals before his miss from 45 yards in the first quarter. OSU’s offense squandered the great field position it inherited after LaDainian Fields’ interception. 

After Iowa State tied the game 14-14 in the second quarter, the Cyclones caught the Cowboys by surprise with a perfectly executed onside kick — recovered by the kicker. The Cyclones scored three plays later on a 43-yard bomb from Jaylen Raynor to Jamal Polite. 

OSU’s special teams woes continued when Bobby Deal Jr. muffed a punt that he had no business trying to field. Iowa State recovered and converted the miscue into a field goal before halftime. 

Three huge special teams plays cost the Cowboys at least 13 points in the first half. 

More: Five Oklahoma State football takeaways after Iowa State overwhelms Cowboys’ defense

Vintage Big 12: A+ 

There were 1,114 yards of offense, 51 first downs and 100 points. 

What year is it again?

This was a throwback Big 12 game in the best and worst ways. 

Iowa State outgained Oklahoma State 581-533.

There were 12 touchdown drives of at least 70 yards! 

We’ve come to expect such offense from Drew Mestemaker and Co. 

But OSU’s defense made the worst offense in the Big 12 look like the ’99 Rams. 

Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who was benched a week ago, threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Do-it-all Cyclone Aiden Flora rushed 29 times for a whopping 221 yards. 

Iowa State (8.1) averaged more yards per play than OSU (7.2). The Cowboys’ defense has regressed in a big way after a strong start to the season. 

Caleb Hawkins: A+ 

Hawkins had a 59-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The latter was OSU’s longest touchdown run of the season. 

Hawkins had three touchdowns in all, rushing for 194 yards on 25 carries and catching six passes for 81 yards. 

There aren’t many running backs in the country you’d rather have than Hawkins. 

More: How Caleb Hawkins’ younger brothers are building on his North Rock Creek football legacy

Justin Bowick: A+

Justin Bowick was exceptional. As with Hawkins, it’s a shame these offensive performances will be overshadowed by the loss. 

Bowick went all Randy Moss on his 41-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. It was his second touchdown catch of the night. 

The Illinois transfer had seven catches for 124 yards, bested only by Iowa State’s Jamal Polite, who had six catches for 171 yards. 

You’ll see Bowick on Sundays. He’s got hands, size and speed. And he’s a willing blocker. 

His downfield blocking on Hawkins’ 75-yard touchdown run was superstar stuff. 

Uniform matchup: A+ 

The two teams collaborated on a spooky look: Oklahoma State in all orange, and Iowa State in all black. 

The perfect Halloween uniform matchup. Kudos to the respective equipment staffs for making it happen. 

Fong’s Pizza: A-  

How does crab rangoon pizza sound? 

It’s a bestseller at Fong’s Pizza, a must-stop in Des Moines, Iowa. 

A group of us covering the Cowboys ate there Friday night, as has become tradition before road games at Iowa State. It was our first time at the new location. Fong’s moved in April 2025 from a cozy spot to a bigger space. 

We split two crab rangoon pizzas, an orange chicken pizza and a “Fongolian” beef pizza. 

You can order regular pizzas at Fongs, or regular Chinese food, but their speciality is Chinese food on pizza. 

It’s not the best pizza you’ll ever have. But it might be the most innovative. 

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football wastes big nights from Caleb Hawkins, Justin Bowick | Report card

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