Cyclones Stun Hawkeyes With Late Field Goal in Cy-Hawk Clash
The annual Cy-Hawk rivalry lived up to its reputation, as Iowa State edged out Iowa in a defensive slugfest that came down to the wire. The Cyclones walked away with a 16–13 victory in front of a packed house at Jack Trice Stadium, keeping the coveted Cy-Hawk Trophy in Ames for another year.
The game was decided in dramatic fashion when Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy drilled a 54-yard field goal with less than two minutes to play. It wasn’t the first time he had broken Iowa’s heart, either. In fact, for the second straight season, he hit a game-winning 54-yarder against the Hawkeyes. That kind of clutch performance has now cemented him as a Cy-Hawk legend.
From the start, this matchup had the feel of a classic Big Ten-style battle: low scoring, heavy on defense, and every yard fought for. Iowa State struck first with a pair of field goals, jumping out to a 6–0 lead early. The Cyclones then capitalized on a big defensive play when cornerback Jeremiah Cooper intercepted Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski and set up a short-field touchdown. Rocco Becht connected with his massive tight end Ben Brahmer for a two-yard score, putting the Cyclones up 13–3 in the second quarter.
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But Iowa fought back. Just before halftime, Gronowski engineered a grueling 16-play, 85-yard drive, capped by his own two-yard touchdown run. That momentum carried into the third quarter, when the Hawkeyes added a field goal to tie things up at 13–13. For a while, it looked like Iowa had the upper hand, as its defense stiffened and the Cyclones’ offense sputtered through stalled drives.
Still, Iowa State refused to fold. Becht, while not putting up huge numbers, managed the game effectively, finishing 18 of 27 for 134 yards and a touchdown. Along the way, a critical third-down catch by Gabe Burkle—off a deflected pass—kept a late drive alive and positioned the Cyclones for Konrardy’s decisive kick.
On the other side, Iowa’s offense struggled all afternoon. Gronowski completed only 13 of 24 passes for 83 yards and threw an interception. The Hawkeyes relied heavily on long, grinding drives, but too many ended in punts or short field goals instead of touchdowns. When Iowa had one final chance to answer, the Cyclones’ defense stood tall, forcing a four-and-out that sealed the deal.
The win was historic for Iowa State. Not only was it the first time since 2011 that the Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes at home, but it also marked back-to-back Cy-Hawk victories—something rarely achieved in this fierce rivalry. For head coach Matt Campbell’s squad, it was validation that Iowa State could handle the pressure in big moments.
Meanwhile, for Iowa’s veteran coach Kirk Ferentz, the loss delayed his chance to surpass Woody Hayes as the winningest coach in Big Ten history. Instead, the headlines belonged to Iowa State, its stingy defense, and a kicker with nerves of steel.
In the end, the Cy-Hawk Trophy isn’t just staying in Ames—it’s being held by a team that proved once again this rivalry can come down to one single kick.
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