AMES, Iowa - The No. 24 Iowa State Cyclones escaped with a 27-24 win over an inspired effort by the Drake University football team in the regular-season finale for both teams at Jack Trice Stadium.
 
The Bulldogs' hard-fought, gritty effort gave the team a lead late into the third quarter before Iowa State (8-4) rode first-team all-Big 12 running back David Montgomery to the victory with 33 carries for 145 yards and two scores for the back. Iowa State needed every bit of that to hold off the upset bid from a resolved Bulldog squad that was given little chance of being competitive by the pundits and prognosticators.
 
"We said all week were were here to fight to win the next play," said Drake head coach Rick Fox. "I told them this morning that no matter the outcome, I'd be proud if they did that from the first play to the last play and they did that today."
 
Despite that effort, Drake (7-4) outgained the Cyclones, 279-273, with quarterback Grant Kraemer completing 20-of-29 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.
 
However, as has been the case all season, it was Drake's defense that stole the show in holding Iowa State to its second-lowest offensive output in the last two months. A sack/fumble and interception helped Drake take the lead in the third quarter as well as forcing a total of three punts and two turnovers on downs.
 
"I hope everyone sees the kind of football team we have the kind of football we play in the PFL," Fox said. "It's great football at Drake. I'm not surprised, we have tough kids that know how to play football."
 

That defense, which ranks in the top-15 nationally in the FCS in nearly every statistic, was led by 12 tackles from Zac Rujawitz and nine, including eight solo stops, by Sean Lynch.
 
Facing a 20-14 deficit to open the second half, the Bulldogs scored 10 third-quarter points to briefly hold a 24-20 lead over the Cyclones before ISU scored to end the third quarter.
 
The Bulldogs' two third-quarter scores were set up by that incredible defensive effort with Drake recovering a fumble on the Iowa State 29-yard line to set up a field goal and an interception in Drake territory that led to a touchdown.
 
The fumble recovery was the result of a sack that was recovered by Gavin Dineen. Six plays later, Donley booted a 26-yard field goal to remain perfect on the season and pull Drake within a score at 20-17 with 11:02 left in the period.
 
On Iowa State's ensuing drive, Kieran Severa recorded his first interception of the season by picking off a Brock Purdy pass at the Drake 37-yard line that Severa returned to the Drake 46-yard line. Kraemer marched the Bulldogs down to the ISU 4-yard line before an offensive pass interference penalty pushed the Bulldogs back 15 yards. However, on the next play, Kraemer found Cates in the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 24-20 lead.
 
That lead was short lived as Iowa State went 67 yards on its next drive to score on a 7-yard TD pass from Purdy to Deshaunte Jones to take a 27-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Drake made one final effort to pull ahead late in the fourth quarter, but a holding call on first down stretched the chains on the Bulldogs and they were unable to convert. ISU received Drake's punt with three minutes left in the contest and promptly put the ball in the hands of Montgomery to run out the clock.
 
Drake scored the first points of the game when the Iowa State punt unit couldn't handle a snap to give the Bulldogs the ball on the Iowa State 7-yard line. Drake scored two plays later with Kraemer finding Zach DeLeon in the end zone. Iowa State countered with a score of its own to end the opening quarter tied at 7-7.
 
The Cyclones took their first lead of the afternoon in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but Drake fired right back with a 10-play, 83-yard drive that finished with a two-yard Kraemer pass to Tom Pugh, for the first reception of his career. 
 
ISU blocked a Drake punt midway through the quarter, recovered deep in Drake territory and scored shortly after to account for the 20-14 halftime lead after the PAT failed.