AMES, IOWA — Colorado’s Dan Hawkins ranks among the nation’s leading coaches in going for it on fourth down. He would no doubt like to have one back earlier today.
A failed fourth-and-1 from the CU 43-yard line early in the third quarter dramatically changed the momentum in a 31-28 victory by Iowa State before 45,487 at Jack Trice Stadium.
Colorado (5-6, 3-4 Big 12) led 21-0 when Iowa State took over on downs. The Cyclones needed just three plays to move 43 yards first its first touchdown. Iowa State (3-8, 2-5) also scored on its next three possessions to take a 24-21 lead with 12:21 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Bret Culbertson.
The Buff converted on fourth down during the late drive to pull within three on Scotty McKnight’s 9-yard touchdown catch. But after forcing ISU to punt and getting the ball back with 46 seconds to play at their 29-yard line, the Buffs ran out of time.
But the Cyclones weren’t sure of the victory until time ran out just before Colorado’s Kevin Eberhart made a 55-yard field goal that would have tied it.
Colorado had no timeouts and rushed its field goal unit onto the field with the clock running down. Eberhart made a 50-yarder, but the Buffaloes were penalized 5 yards for delay of game for snapping the ball before it was blown into play.
The officials marked off the penalty and Colorado lined up again. Eberhart made the longer kick, but the officials ruled the final second had ticked off before the ball was snapped and the Buffaloes stomped off the field as Iowa State fans swarmed out of the stands.
Colorado, which needs a victory over Nebraska on Nov. 23 to become bowl eligible, missed a chance to tie the game at 24 with 8:32 left when Eberhart was wide right on a 44-yard field-goal attempt.
The Buffaloes failed in a bid to give Hawkins a present on his 47th birthday.
CU’s defense missed two starters in the secondary. Lionel Harris, a senior who was a starter in 2006, filled in for junior Ryan Walters, who had suffered a concussion against Missouri. Junior cornerback Gardner McKay started in place of senior Terrence Wheatley, who had a sprained foot a week earlier.
Walters and Wheatley had started every game this season. But the patchwork secondary stuck with receivers in the first half. Harris recorded his first interception of the season in the second quarter, racing across the field to pick off a Bret Meyer pass at the Iowa State 26.
Two plays later, CU senior tailback Hugh Charles knifed eight yards off right tackle with 2:49 left before halftime for a 14-0 lead after the extra point.
Iowa State failed to make a first down after the kickoff but punted to the Colorado 8. With 1:43 remaining, the Buffaloes might have been content to run out the clock. After a nine-yard gain on his first carry, freshman tailback Brian Lockridge sprinted around right end for 47 yards — CU’s longest running play of the season.
Colorado’s drive appeared to stall with a fourth-and-2 at the Iowa State 28. A southeasterly wind of up to 25 mph would have been in the face of CU kicker Kevin Eberhart, so the Buffs went for the first down. Hawkins found senior tight end Tyson DeVree wide open on the right flat.
DeVree hopped over cornerback Chris Singleton at the 15 and skipped into the end zone to give CU a 21-0 lead with 25 seconds to go before the break.
Unintentionally, Dan Hawkins may have fired up Iowa State early in the third quarter. Hawkins declined to punt on fourth-and-1 from the CU 43. After the Cyclones defense stopped Demetrius Sumler for no gain, Iowa State needed just three plays to go 43 yards for its first score.
Given new life and feeling the wind at its back, Iowa State drove 68 yards on seven plays on its next possession, with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Meyer to Todd Blythe pulling ISU to within 21-14 with 8:31 remaining in the third quarter.
CU again failed to make a first down, and Iowa State pounced. After a 19-yard punt into the wind by Matt Dillalo, the Cyclones tied the game with a third-down, 55-yard touchdown pass from Meyer to Blythe, who had beaten Benjamin Burney and Daniel Dykes down the left sideline.
The Cyclones took their first lead when a 24-yard field goal by Bret Culbertson with 12:21 remaining in the game.
Nineteen Iowa State seniors made their final home appearance, including Meyer and Blythe, both four-year starters.
Hawkins had lost only once on his birthday in 11 previous years as a head coach. His Boise State team fell to Fresno State on Nov. 10, 2005.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
