Rocco Becht in action in Saturday’s 24-16 at Arkansas State. Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications.
Iowa State played brilliant football for 28 seconds of Saturday’s game at heavy underdog Arkansas State.
The other 59 minutes and 32 seconds? A mistake-filled mixed bag for the No. 14 Cyclones, who still managed to stave off the Red Wolves’ stirring upset bid, 24-16, on a sweltering September afternoon in the “Natural State.”
“Today was tough,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell told reporters after his team improved to 4-0. “I said at the end of last week’s game that this is where you can get yourself caught. And we didn’t. We didn’t flinch. We didn’t waver. We played right through it.”
The Cyclones entered as a 21-point favorite and appeared en route to the expected rout after taking a 9-0 lead on quarterback Rocco Becht’s 10-yard keeper with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter.
But that’s when cracks in the “precision and detail” piece the Cyclones rely upon to win began to form — eventually growing into a troubling chasm. Standout walk-on kicker Kyle Konrardy missed the extra point, then went very wide right on a subsequent field goal attempt. A roughing the punter penalty on ISU backup safety Drew Surges followed, which turned a three and out into a 17-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that gave Arkansas State (1-2) a 10-9 lead with 38 seconds left in the first half.
That’s when that brilliant 28-second strike occurred, as Becht eventually connected with receiver Dominic Overby for a 27-yard touchdown just 11 seconds before halftime.
Transfer receiver Xavier Townsend had dashed down the middle of the field for a 35-yard gain on the previous play. That set up Becht’s eighth touchdown pass of the season — and the subsequent two-point conversion throw to tailback Carson Hansen that gave the Cyclones a 17-10 lead.
Whew? Think again. ISU’s defense struggled to get off the field most of the game and without the aid of several Arkansas State penalties, it would have relinquished the lead again early in the fourth quarter.
Instead, the Red Wolves settled for a a 40-yard field goal that made the score 17-16 with 11:53 remaining.
The Cyclones responded immediately with an impressive seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by Abu Sama’s bulldozing four-yard touchdown run that gave his team a 24-16 lead with 8:34 left.
ISU cornerback Tre Bell intercepted talented and elusive Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor on the subsequent series and order seemed to be restored.
“It’s stuff I knew I could do,” Bell said. “I just waited for my moment to showcase it.”
But more mistakes by the Cyclones followed — and Tyler Perkins’ punt was nearly blocked in the end zone.
ISU couldn’t fully exhale until receiver Carson Brown’s circus 31-yard catch with 1:02 left allowed it to kneel in victory formation.
“Our standards are high,” said Becht, who completed 14 of 25 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score. “That wasn’t shown out today by us, so we’ve got to continue to get better.”
Becht extended his FBS-leading and school record string of consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass to 22 but threw his first interception of the season in the third quarter.
Hansen led the Cyclones with 116 rushing yards and Sama added 69 yards on the ground. Townsend caught three passes for a career-high 92 yards.
“At the beginning of the season, (Townsend) was a little bit, you know, not really understanding everything (that was) going on, but he’s got it down now, and it shows out on the field — and it showed (on Saturday),” Becht said. “So he’s gonna be a big part of this offense coming the rest of the season.
The Cyclones now enter their first of three bye weeks and return to the field to face Arizona (3-0) on Sept. 27 at home.
“We’re gonna go into this bye week like it’s a game week,” Becht said. “We’re gonna be physical with one another at practice. We’re gonna be smart with it but we’re gonna continue to get better throughout the week and be prepare for Arizona.
BURKLE OUT, OTHER QUESTION MARKS
Iowa State junior tight end Gabe Burkle traveled to Jonesboro, but did not play. According to the ESPN2 broadcast, the former Cedar Rapids Prairie star had sustained a groin strain in practice this week. Through three weeks, Burkle ranked second on the team in receptions (10) and receiving yards (149).
“I don’t think he was fully healthy and I don’t think it was the right thing for him (to play),” Campbell said.
Konrardy — who his a game-winning 54-yard field goal last weekend against Iowa — didn’t attempt a kick after his field goal miss and it was unclear immediately after the game if he’d suffered an injury.
