Cyclones Drop Heartbreaker To Toledo, 36-35

TOLEDO, Ohio ? Toledo (1-3) scored 12 points in the final 5:25 to defeat ISU, 36-35, at the Glass Bowl. The Rockets registered their first win of the season by blocking Bret Culbertson's 38-yard field goal attempt with 14 seconds remaining in the game. ISU is now 1-3 on the season.

Bret Meyer completed 24 of 33 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, while J.J. Bass ran for 133 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns to pace the Cyclone offense. Todd Blythe caught seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown while R.J. Sumrall made six catches for 52 yards.

The Cyclones and Rockets alternated scoring efforts throughout the first three quarters. The Rockets went 95 yards on 10 plays to strike in their initial drive at the 7:30 mark of the first quarter. Jalen Parmele capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run.

Bass ran 10 yards to pay dirt with 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Cyclones gained 21 yards on the ground and 47 yards through the air for six plays and 69 yards.

The two teams again traded touchdowns in the second quarter. Toledo scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Aaron Opelt. The drive covered 41 yards on six plays over 2:42.

The Cyclone rebuttal came almost exclusively through the air. Meyer threw to the flat for Wallace Franklin, who marched into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown with 4:20 remaining in the first half. Meyer completed five passes for 56 yards on the drive, including a seven-yard connection to Sumrall on fourth and six from the Toledo 31.

The Rockets retook the lead, 17-14, with a five-play, 47-yard drive resulting in a 35-yard Alex Steigerwald field goal just 1:10 into the third quarter.

ISU again had an answer. Meyer again proved potent through the air, connecting on consecutive passes of 25 and 26 yards to Sumrall and Blythe, respectively, the latter for his second touchdown pass of the night at the 12:31 mark of the third quarter. The Cyclones took a 21-17 lead.

Toledo then went 81 yards on eight plays to find the end zone with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter. Opelt found Stephen Williams on the sideline and Williams went the majority of his 42 yards after the catch to find the end zone.

Iowa State's next drive produced Meyer's third touchdown pass, a two-yard completion to Derrick Catlett on play action. Meyer released his pass just before getting pummeled by the Rocket pass rush. The ball nipped the fingertips of the intended receiver, Ben Barkema. Catlett altered his route and made a diving catch. Replay confirmed that Catlett got a foot down with possession of the football before falling out of bounds.

The Cyclone defense forced a fourth and seven from the Toledo 36 on the next Rocket possession. Toledo lined up to punt, but ISU sniffed out a fake, taking down punter Bret Kern after just a three-yard gain.

Using the short field, the Cyclones went 39 yards, all on the ground for another touchdown with 5:25 left in the game. Bass went 21 yards in the series, scoring from the one to increase the ISU advantage to 35-24. Meyer also moved the ball 18 yards on the ground in the drive.

The Rockets wasted no time cutting into the lead. Parmele took the kick-off 82 yards to pay dirt to make the score 35-30. The two-point conversion failed.

Iowa State's next drive stalled at the ISU 32 and with the punt team on the field, the snap was fumbled and Toledo's Greg Hay recovered the ball in the end zone. The two-point attempt again failed and the Rockets clung to a 36-35 lead.

The ISU offense drove the ball to the Toledo 21 to set up the 38-yard Culbertson field goal attempt, but the kick was partially blocked by Hay, preserving the Toledo victory.

The Cyclones return to action next Saturday at Nebraska. The kick-off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Ben Barkema

Ben Barkema

Todd Blythe

Todd Blythe

Derrick Catlett

Derrick Catlett

Bret Culbertson

Bret Culbertson

Wallace Franklin

Bret Meyer

Bret Meyer

R.J. Sumrall

R.J. Sumrall

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