Last-second field goal gives Iowa St. upset win
AMES, Iowa -- Bret Culbertson's record-tying day helped give Iowa State coach Gene Chizik a win he'll never forget.
Culbertson tied a school record with 5 field goals, the last one a 28-yarder with one second left to give the Cyclones a 15-13 upset victory over Iowa on Saturday for Chizik's first win.
The victory was Iowa State's fourth in five tries at home against the Hawkeyes (2-1). The Cyclones (1-2) have taken seven of the last 10 from their in-state rival.
Iowa State did it behind a kicker who entered the game 0-for-3 on field goal tries this season. But against an Iowa defense that still hasn't given up a touchdown this season, Culbertson lifted Iowa State to its first win without the benefit of a touchdown since 1948.
"I am so proud of Bret Culbertson," Chizik said. "He has had a lot of ups and downs throughout his career and I told him today was his day."
One of those downs for Culbertson was in the final minutes against Missouri in 2004 when he missed a field goal that would have sent Iowa State to the Big 12 title game.
Iowa State set up Culbertson's game-winning kick with a play they drew up on the sidelines. Bret Meyer found Cyclones third-string quarterback Phillip Bates -- who was playing wide receiver on the play -- on a 38-yard pass that put the Cyclones on Iowa's 17 yard line.
Iowa had made the risky decision to blitz. It didn't work, and linebacker Mike Klinkenborg got caught in a mismatch with the talented freshman, whose raw ability has forced the coaching staff to find places to play him.
"We made a decision to go after them. The bottom line is you either get there before he throws it or that happens," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.
The Cyclones then milked the clock, allowing Culbertson a chance to win the game. Culbertson, who clanked a 47-yard try off an upright earlier in the fourth quarter, split the uprights to complete a remarkable turnaround for Iowa State.
"This win is for the Iowa State fans and our players," Chizik said. "This team took a lot of criticism the last couple of games and they believed in each other today."
Two years ago, the Cyclones beat then-No. 8 Iowa 23-3 in Ames.
"Us older guys have been in this game before. We know they're a good team," Iowa defensive lineman Bryan Mattison said. "They came out ready to go and it wasn't because we thought we could walk over them, that's for sure."