Iowa State Stops Kansas State on Controversial 4th Down to Win
Iowa State capitalized on a controversial fourth-down stop against Kansas State in the fourth quarter on Saturday, holding a slim 17-14 lead with 8:20 remaining. The Cyclones appeared to halt the Wildcats’ progress, but Kansas State argued that quarterback Avery Johnson had crossed the line to gain. Despite the protests, the officials sided with Iowa State.
The Cyclones wasted no time making Kansas State pay, needing just four plays before Rocco Becht ran in a seven-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 24-14.
The sequence, including the pivotal fourth-down play, set the stage for an intense finish. But things didn’t end there. After Iowa State’s touchdown, Kansas State had the chance to bounce back, down by 10 with 6:30 remaining. Johnson responded by connecting with Jayce Brown for a stunning 65-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-21 with just over six minutes left.
Despite the controversy and the stakes, including implications for the Big 12 standings, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell remained focused on his team’s performance.
“We’ve got to worry about ourselves and handle our business,” Campbell said leading into the game. “If you don’t focus on yourself, you’ve got real problems. My main priority, and I hope our players’ focus, has been about self-improvement. We had no idea what Kansas State would do, it’s the first game with a new offensive coordinator and a changing defense. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, you’ve got to be ready for anything.”
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