AMES — Iowa State got back into the win column with a 34-17 win over Cincinnati, backed by a bounce-back performance from the defense, a strong second half from the offense and a big-time contribution from an unlikely name.
Cyclone defense bounces back
In last week’s loss to Kansas, the Cyclone defense played their worst game of the season. Iowa State gave up 38 offensive points and 532 yards en route to the 45-36 loss.
By the way Saturday night’s game against Cincinnati started, it looked like the Cyclone defense was going to be in for another rough game. The Bearcats took the opening kickoff and went right down the field on a 10-play, 75-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.
It was the fifth time the Iowa State defense allowed its opponent to score a touchdown on its opening drive.
After that drive, the Cyclone defense settled in.
Iowa State allowed just three points the remainder of the first half, but lost defensive captain J.R. Singleton to an injury in the process, adding to the ever-growing list of Cyclone defenders who have suffered injuries this season.
“Don’t know,” head coach Matt Campbell said on Singleton’s status. “I guess we’ll find out a little bit later in the week.”
Though the Cyclones lost Singleton, they did get back three players who missed last week’s game against Kansas in Malik Verdon, Domonique Orange and Will McLaughlin, who played his first game of the season.
Iowa State continued its strong play in the second half.
Following an opening drive touchdown by the Iowa State offense to take the 17-10 lead, the Bearcats went on a long drive of their own before the Cyclones forced a fumble and recovered it on their own 13-yard line.
The defense broke just once in the second half, allowing a 41-yard touchdown run from Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby to bring the game to 20-17 in favor of the Cyclones.
That would be the last time Cincinnati got on the scoreboard.
The Cyclones especially excelled in stopping the pass. Sorsby completed 11-of-19 passes for just 66 yards, the third time the Cyclones have held an opponent to less than 100 yards passing in a game this season.
Cyclone offense comes alive in second half
The Iowa State offense was held to just 10 points and 114 yards in the first half, with both scoring drives coming on short fields. The Cyclones especially struggled in the ground game, gaining just 24 yards on 13 carries in the first half.
In the second half, Iowa State turned it around.
“We’ve been a second-half team all year,” quarterback Rocco Becht said.
On the first drive of the second half, Becht led the Cyclones on a nine-play, 76-yard touchdown drive to take a 17-10 lead.
The Cyclones went on to score on three of their next four drives, ultimately securing the victory after a 27-yard touchdown run from running back Abu Sama III that made the game 34-17 with just over a minute to go in the game.
The Cyclones scored 24 points and moved the ball for a total of 272 yards in the second half.
“He [offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser] thought he called a better game in the second half and we obviously played better as an offense in the second half,” tight end Stevo Klotz said.
Becht led the way for the Cyclones offense, both on the ground and through the air.
On the ground, Becht ran the ball seven times for 48 yards and a touchdown. Becht’s touchdown came on a botched play following a bobbled snap where he broke free for a 15-yard touchdown run to increase the Cyclones’ lead to 27-17.
Becht went 24-for-33 for 234 yards and a touchdown through the air, spreading it around to six different receivers.
Tight end Gabe Burkle led the team in receiving yards with 73 yards on six receptions. This was the first time a player besides seniors Jayden Higgins or Jaylin Noel led the team in receiving yards in a game this season.
“You watch [Burkle], who that guy has played good football, and he’s waiting for his moment, and he had some critical plays. It’s just so great to see,” Campbell said.
Another notable name out of the receiver room was true freshman Brett Eskildsen. Eskilden made his first two career catches for 17 yards on Saturday night. Both of his catches converted on third downs that led to eventual scoring drives in the second half.
“[Eskilden has] been incredible for us, really all fall on special teams. Then, boom, he gets a moment, and he takes advantage of it,” Campbell said. “I’m really happy for him because I think he’s going to have an incredible career here.”
Klotz comes through in big moments
In two of the biggest moments of the game, Campbell and his coaching staff called on Klotz to come through in the clutch.
On the first drive of the second half, with the score tied at 10, the Cyclones were driving down the field, looking for a lead-taking score.
On first-and-10 from the Bearcats 26-yard line, Becht faked a run to the right, pulled up to pass and found a wide-open Klotz for his second career touchdown to take a 17-10 lead.
“[Klotz] was incredible for us today,” Campbell said.
After the Cyclones’ second drive of the second half had seemingly stalled out, Iowa State got into punt formation on fourth-and-nine from their own 42-yard line.
Instead of punting the ball away, the snap went directly to Klotz, who ran the ball 22 yards for a first down. The drive ultimately ended in a 52-yard field goal from kicker Kyle Konrardy to extend the Cyclones lead to 20-10.
“We’ve been sitting on that one for a while,” Klotz said. “It was nice to finally get it called and then get the look to run it. It was awesome.”
“I had no idea that was coming,” Becht said. “I was about to sit down and watch [the] film, then I heard everyone scream.”
