Senior cornerback Ellis Hobbs best summed up Iowa State’s range of emotions after the Cyclones’ heartbreaking 17-14 loss to Missouri.

“We’ve had letdowns and great times,” Hobbs said. “Today, you saw it all in one game.”

There were missed tackles, incomplete passes and a missed field goal, but Iowa State ultimately failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities, hindering the Cyclones’ comeback.

“When we get opportunities, we have to make plays, and some of the guys that had opportunities were young guys,” said ISU head coach Dan McCarney. “But I still have faith in those kids. It’s a great young bunch of people to be around.”

In overtime, with Iowa State trailing 17-14, on third and goal on the Missouri 6-yard line, Bret Meyer’s fade to the corner of the end zone intended for Jon Davis was intercepted by Missouri’s AJ Kincade, ending Iowa State’s chances of playing Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game.

“I wish I would have gone more over the top. I made a bad throw,” Meyer said.

The ISU defense, which has carried the Cyclones all season long, once again put Iowa State in the position to win, but the ISU offense was stagnated throughout much of the game.

Late in the fourth quarter, safety Nik Moser knocked the ball loose from Missouri’s Thomson Omboga and Steve Paris returned it to the Missouri 15-yard line.

“Up to that point, they were driving, but I kept telling myself that somebody was going to play. I wanted to make the play,” Hobbs said. “The ball wasn’t coming my way, but I was ready for it. I felt like something good was going to happen, and I look up and Stevie picked up the ball and took off.”

The ISU offense took the field at the Missouri 15-yard line, and Stevie Hicks failed to gain a first down on three tries. Bret Culbertson was brought in the game for a 24-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide right.

“The offense should have gotten a touchdown; it shouldn’t have come down to that anyways,” Hicks said.

Culbertson was 21 of 22 on the season before missing that kick, with his lone blemish against Kansas State the week before.

But there were other missed opportunities along the way.

On Missouri’s first pass play of the game, Jamarr Buchanan picked off Brad Smith’s pass at the Missouri 35-yard line.

Three rushes by Hicks resulted in a gain of six yards, and the Cyclones went for it on fourth and four before Meyer was sacked for a loss of seven yards.

Iowa State’s next possession began at the ISU 20-yard line. The Cyclone offense moved the ball to the Missouri 32-yard line, but the Tiger defense shut down Hicks on fourth and one.

Both in the second quarter and in overtime, Meyer failed to connect with a wide-open Ben Barkema.

With all of their chances, the Cyclones know they let this victory slip through their fingers.