Oklahoma State and Iowa State combined for 100 points in their Week 8 showdown on Halloween night, which inevitably means it was a contest filled with fireworks, but it was also one that ended in an incredibly frustrating fashion for the visiting Cowboys and their fanbase.
Trailing 48-42 with just under three minutes left in regulation, the Cowboys put together an impressive 12-play drive that ended with wide receiver Wyatt Young scoring his second touchdown of the evening to tie things up at 48 apiece. Oklahoma State then tacked on the extra point to grab a one-point lead with 53 seconds left on the clock, but it was what took place between the score and the PAT that became the story of the night.
After Young scampered into the end zone, he immediately ran over to a section of Iowa State fans sitting in the first few rows and began shouting at them.
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With Young going out of his way to shout at some fans, the first two being young children, the officials flagged him for unsportsmanlike conduct, which was imposed on the ensuing kickoff.
With the kickoff being pushed back 15 yards, the Cyclones were able to begin their drive at the 37-yard line after a return. The first play of the drive then went for 33 yards, putting Iowa State immediately in field goal position.
The Cyclones were able to push the football inside the red zone before calling a timeout and setting up what was the game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining.
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While it would be unfair to pin the loss on Young’s unsportsmanlike penalty, especially given the explosive play the Cowboys’ defense gave up on the first play of the final drive, it certainly didn’t make life easy on the visiting team trying to hold on for the win.
Young issued an apology to Cowboys fans on social media in the early hours of Sunday morning following the team’s 51-49 loss.
“I apologize to all cowboy football supporters, my teammates, and coaches for the lack of discipline and selfishness I displayed today,” Young wrote on X.
“Football is a team sport and one play, like the one I made, can change the outcome of the whole game and I’m sorry for that. The lack of maturity I showed is inexcusable and should have never been displayed on the field. I deeply regret representing the loyal and true motto Oklahoma State stands by the way I did. I take full accountability for what happened, our coaches do not teach us or allow us to act the way I did.”
Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris did not sugarcoat the situation when asked about it during his postgame press conference, calling it “the most selfish penalty ever.”
With the loss, Oklahoma State fell to 5-3 on the season, which, barring a true miracle, means that its College Football Playoff dreams are dead.