MANHATTAN, Kan. — When Iowa State and Kansas State get together on the gridiron, it’s bound to be a close game, and Saturday afternoon’s matchup was no different. On a rain-drenched field in Manhattan, Kan., the Wildcats stopped an ISU drive with a minute left on fourth and two as they held on for a 30-23 win at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The Lowdown

The Cyclones started the game with the ball and drove into Wildcats territory after an 18-yard completion from quarterback Jared Barnett to wide receiver Darius Reynolds. After coming up short on its first three downs from the 41, Iowa State went for it on fourth and four. Barnett hit wide receiver Darius Darks near the first down line, but a tackle by KSU defensive back Allen Chapman at three yards forced the Cyclones to turn the ball over on downs.

After three drives that ended in punts, a flea flicker put the Cyclones on the board as Barnett handed off to running back Jeff Woody, who pitched the ball back to Barnett, who floated the ball to a jumping Darks in the end zone. ISU kicker Zach Guyer added an extra point following the 30-yard touchdown to give Iowa State a 7-0 lead.

After gaining only six total yards and surrendering two sacks on their first two drives, the Wildcats responded quickly. On the first play of their next drive, quarterback Collin Klein found wide receiver Tramaine Thompson over the middle of the field, and Thompson outran a diving ISU safety Ter’Ran Benton and went 68 yards into the end zone.

Iowa State took back the lead five plays later as a 44-yard run by running back Duran Hollis set up the Cyclones on the Kansas State one-yard line, where Woody took care of the rest, running up the middle and into the end zone. The extra point was blocked so the Cyclones took a 13-7 lead with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.

Kansas State kicked off the second quarter with a 12-play, 54-yard yard drive that ended with 37-yard field goal boot by kicker Anthony Cantele. A trio of punts followed on the next three drives before the Wildcats took over with 2:01 left in the half at their own 38. Klein completed three of four passes for 45 yards and carried three times for 17 yards capped off by a one-yard touchdown run as Kansas State took a 17-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Following a K-State punt to start the second half, Iowa State took over at its own 20. Barnett was intercepted four plays into the drive on a pass that was deflected to give Kansas State the ball at the ISU 47. Seven plays later, the Wildcats increased their lead to seven with 8:48 left in the third quarter after a 47-yard field goal off the foot of Cantele.

Facing three third downs on their next drive, the Cyclones converted on all three as they got the ball inside the Wildcats’ 25-yard line. A seven-yard completion from Barnett to wide receiver Albert Gary brought the ball to the 18 and then once again Iowa State called on Woody. He carried five yards to the 13 and then on the next play, followed right guard Hayworth Hicks to the five-yard line, cut to the right and went into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown to tie the score at 20 apiece with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter.

Klein and the Wildcats drove the ball deep into ISU territory looking to break the 20-20 tie, and they would as a goal line stop for the Cyclones sent Cantele onto the field for a 19-yard field goal which he kicked through the uprights. The Cyclones would even the score seven and a half minutes later as Guyer nailed a 43-yard attempt to cap a 17-play drive with 6:12 remaining in the game. That drive included two fourth down conversions on Iowa State’s side of the 50-yard line, as Woody carried two yards on a fourth and one and punter Kirby Van Der Kamp ran nine yards on a fake punt to convert on a fourth and eight.

The Wildcats went back to the ground game as running back John Hubert picked up 22 yards to put K-State in ISU territory. Four plays later, Hubert scampered 26 yards into the end zone to give Kansas State a 30-23 lead with just 3:29 remaining. Starting from their own 20, the Cyclones went to Woody again for four carries and a catch that combined for 28 yards. A nine-yard run by Barnett moved Iowa State into Kansas State territory with 1:41 left. Woody picked up another first down to the Wildcats’ 39 before a pair of incomplete passes and an eight-yard run by Barnett set up a fourth and two with 1:11 on the clock.

Iowa State gave Woody his 23rd carry on the day, but it would be his last as the Kansas State defense swarmed the line of scrimmage and forced Woody to try and shovel the ball to his teammates. The Wildcats recovered the ball and a trio of kneeldowns by Klein sealed their tenth victory of the season.

Turning Point

Down 30-23 on Kansas State’s 43 and needing a touchdown, the Cyclones took a timeout with 1:41 left on the clock. On the next play, a second down and one, Barnett fired a screen pass to Gary that fell incomplete. Barnett then took off on the next play for eight yards up the middle to set up a fourth and two. Already with 11 carries in the fourth quarter, the Cyclones called on Woody once again on a run to pick up the two yards.

Unable to find any room in the middle, Woody tried to stretch the play out to the left sideline, but was met by a hoard of K-State defenders and was forced to try and fumble the ball to a teammate. The ball bounced around all the way to Kansas State 46-yard line where the Wildcats recovered and were able run out the clock, picking up the 30-23 victory.

X Factor

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein

The junior from Loveland, Colo. carried his team to its eighth win in a game decided by seven or fewer points this season, as he rushed 26 times for 103 yards and a touchdown and threw for 158 more and another touchdown.

Klein finishes the regular season with 1,745 yards passing with 12 passing touchdowns and 1,099 yards rushing with 26 rushing touchdowns.

By the numbers

1: loss for Iowa State in games decided by seven or fewer points this season as they entered Saturday 5-0.

2: rushing touchdowns by Woody, a career-high.

4: missed extra points by the Cyclones this season.

26: rushing touchdowns for Klein on the season, one short of former Texas running back’s Big 12 single-season record of 27.

68: yards gained on the first quarter touchdown pass from Klein to Thompson, the Wildcats’ longest play this season.

90: minutes the kickoff for Saturday’s game was delayed due to sever weather in the arena. The game was scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. but did not get underway until 1 p.m.

1,010: career receiving yards for Reynolds.

Postgame Chatter

ISU coach Paul Rhoads on the positives to take out of the season’s final two games:

“This is the No. 11 team in the BCS and with [1:07] to go we’re driving down to tie the game and send it into overtime. Last week’s team was No. 1 in the country seven weeks out of the season and we held them to season-lows and did some things that other people haven’t done. I’m really excited about the direction of our program and most excited about one more game left to play in this season,” Rhoads said.

Woody on the statistics from the game and how similar Iowa State and Kansas State are:

“It’s like looking at a reflecting pool. One side or the other it’s almost identical rushing yards, passing yards, total yards, first downs everything is identical. If there are two more evenly-matched teams in the country I’d like to see them,” Woody said.

Rhoads on the matchup between the two teams:

“Overall I think physically these two teams match up well and to me this is one of the most exciting games you play in the course of a season because of that. When you’re the superior team you should win, when you’re the underdog you’re just fighting and if you pull something, fantastic. But when you’re matched evenly boy it’s really a challenge to see who’s the best on that given Saturday, and they have been for three years,” Rhoads said.

Barnett on the team’s feelings after the game:

“Everybody’s hurting this was definitely a struggle. We fought hard and didn’t come out with a win I think that’s why it hurts so bad,” Barnett said.

Rhoads on the fake punt that Iowa State successfully ran:

“I’ll say this, one of the best football plays I’ve ever seen was that play right there. Our kids hanging with the blocks, executing the blocks and Kirby patiently waiting then taking his crease and running like a football player,” Rhoads said.

Guyer on the mood of the team after the game:

“Obviously we’re sad but we’ll come together and get this bowl game win,” Guyer said.

Up next for Iowa State

The Cyclones finish the regular season 6-6, 3-6 in Big 12 and will find out on Sunday which postseason bowl game they will be headed to. The bowl game will be Iowa State’s second in three years (2009) under Rhoads. Numerous factors including the outcome of the two remaining Big 12 games will help determine which bowl game the Cyclones will play in.