AMES — For the second straight year, the Cy-Hawk Trophy slipped away from Iowa on the leg of Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy.
The senior drilled a 54-yard field goal with under two minutes to play, handing Iowa a 16–13 loss in Ames and extending a rivalry trend that has turned into déjà vu for the Hawkeyes. Just like last year, Iowa’s defense fought to the end, but the offense sputtered and left the door open for the Cyclones to steal it late.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski had an uneven day. He finished 13-of-24 for 83 yards with no passing touchdowns and one costly interception, though he did account for Iowa’s lone touchdown with a 2-yard keeper late in the first half. Iowa rushed for 131 yards — respectable, but nowhere near the 301 the Hawkeyes gashed the Cyclones for in 2023. The inability to consistently move the chains in the second half proved costly.
Kicker Drew Stevens was steady, connecting on field goals from 31 and 36 yards, the second of which tied the game at 13–13 midway through the third quarter. At that point, it looked like Iowa had momentum and the defense had adjusted to slow down Rocco Becht, who finished 18-of-27 for 134 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. But when it mattered most, the offense stalled and the field position battle swung back to the Cyclones.
The game became a showcase of two defenses digging in. Iowa State’s front seven held Iowa to short gains, while Phil Parker’s defense limited Becht and forced the Cyclones to settle for long drives and field goals. But in a rivalry where special teams so often tip the balance, it was Konrardy who authored the decisive kick, a booming 54-yarder that kept rising until it cleared the uprights and silenced Iowa’s comeback bid.
For the Hawkeyes, it was another “what if” afternoon in Ames — a game where the defense gave them a chance, but the offense couldn’t provide enough. The sting will linger, not just because of the scoreline, but because of the way it echoed last year’s script almost exactly. Iowa has now dropped two of the last three in the series, and the search for answers on offense remains as pressing as ever.