Ames, Iowa — Eric Gray ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, the Oklahoma defense came up with three interceptions and the Sooners beat Iowa State 27-13 on Saturday at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Cyclones (3-5, 0-5). The previous four defeats had been by a total of 14 points. It’s the longest losing streak since a five-game skid in 2016, Matt Campbell’s first season as coach, and was the first loss of the year by more than a single score.
“We capitalized situationally,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “Our kicking game, again, was a real weapon for us.”
A interception by linebacker Danny Stutsman came with 5:24 left in the fourth quarter and set up a 2-yard plunge by Gray to seal the contest for the Sooners (5-3, 2/3 Big 12).
It was the fifth straight loss for Iowa State (3-5, 0-5). The previous four defeats had been by a total of 14 points.
Oklahoma were lined up for a 19-yard field goal late in the first quarter, but holder Michael Turk flipped the ball to kicker Zach Scmit as he ran past. Schmit’s 2-yard touchdown reception put the Sooners up 10-3 early in the second quarter.
“Everything fell into place,” Schmit said. “I walked in. It was like the Red Sea parting. The blockers did a great job. The scheme was amazing.”
The Cyclones outgained the Sooners 374-332, holding OU 140 yards below its season average. It’s the 16th time in the last 21 games that Iowa State have held an opponent under 350 yards.
QB Hunter Dekkers’ 15-yard touchdown pass to Jaylin Noel on a fourth-down play got ISU close 20-13 with 10:29 left in the contest and got the crowd of 58,716 on their feet. The Cyclones then got the ball right back when MJ Andesrson’s sack forced Oklahoma to punt from its own 8-yard line.
Justin Broiles’ picked off Dekkers overthrew pass that ended that ISU threat, but the defense – which held OU to 105 yards in the second half — forced another three-and-out. After Dekkers scrambled 28 yards to the Sooners 30, Stutsman intercepted him on the next play and returned the ball 37 yards to the ISU 2 yard line.
Two plays later, Eric Gray took a direct snap and went four yards up the middle for the game winning touchdown with 4:36 remaining.
Dekkers finished 37-of-57 for 313 yards – his second-straight game with more than 300+ yards. He was intercepted three times, but his defense held steady all game, only the last one led to an OU score.
The Cyclones got the ball back and drove it to the Oklahoma three, where Dekkers overthrew a pass to Xavier Hutchison in the end zone on fourth down with 58 seconds left on the clock.
Hutchinson, the Big 12’s leading receiver, caught 10 passes for 72 yards, running his season total to 77 receptions – only six short of the school record he set last year. He has caught at least eight passes in every game this season.
Noel matched his career high with seven catches, which totaled 54 yards. Dimitri Stanley had six catches for 90 yards, both season highs.
Gilbert Kicked field goals of 27 and 43 yards for ISU, who struggled with their run game. They totaled just 66 yards on the ground and Dekkers ended up as the leading rusher with 31 yards on four carries.
Oklahoma’s Gray averaged 5.1 yards on 20 carries and couldn’t be stopped in between the tackles.
Cornerback Anthony Johnson and linebacker O’Rien Vance led the defense with eight tackles each. T.J Tampa added seven solo tackles, including one for a loss, and broke up four passes.
Iowa State averaged just 2.4 yards on 27 rushing attempts and couldn’t get the running game going when it counted.
“Right now, it is not where we need it to be,” Cyclone coach Matt Campbell said of the running game. “And it needs to be there for us to be successful offensively.”
Oklahoma hosts Baylor on Saturday. Kickoff time has yet to be determined.
Iowa State hosts West Virginia on Saturday.
