(Ames, IA) – In a hard-fought second half, the Cyclones came up short to #22 Kansas on Saturday night, losing 28-21. What looked like it was going to be a close game in the first quarter, ended up being a game that Kansas led the entire way through to the final seconds.
This game marks the first time that Iowa State has lost to Kansas since 2008 in Ames. Head coach Matt Campbell also had just one loss to the Jayhawks in his head coaching career at Iowa State which now makes two as he sits at 6-2.
In the game overall, the Cyclones started off with not being able to move the ball downfield as the Jayhawks were able to continue putting offensive pressure on the Cyclones’ defense in the first half. Kansas added on two touchdowns early while the Cyclones were just able to add on a field goal with five seconds to spare to put the score 14-3 at the half.
The second half had a much better Iowa State offense, but it came all the way after the Kansas offense marched downfield and scored a touchdown to put themselves up 21-3. Iowa State answered back as Eli Sanders rushed into the endzone for a six-yard touchdown on a 75-yard drive that helped put the Cyclones within two touchdowns. ISU went for it on the extra point rather than going for two to put it within a two-score game, but would only be down by 10 to offer up the field goal opportunity for a tie game.
The fourth quarter was an element of seeing Iowa State put numbers up on the board. Rocco Becht ran in a two-yard rush for a touchdown as he has now thrown or passed a touchdown for nine straight games. As the game was within three, Kansas wanted no more of that on their end. Lawrence Arnold went 15 yards downfield and received a pass from Jason Bean wide-open to rush 80 yards for their only passing touchdown, just one play after the Iowa State touchdown. That put us at our final 28-21.
Iowa State was led by Rocco Becht who went 20-26 for 216 yards and an interception. He also had one rushing touchdown on the night. In the rushing game, the Cyclones were led by Eli Sanders with 57 rushing yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Beau Freyler had 10 tackles and one tackle for loss in the game, by far one of their top defensive performers on Saturday night.
Kansas was led by Jason Bean who went 14-23 for 287 yards and a touchdown. In the rushing game, Devin Neal led with 21 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Rich Miller led in tackles with eight and in sacks with one.
Kansas (7-2) will take on Texas Tech this next week and Iowa State (5-4) will take on BYU in their next matchup on Saturday, November 11th at 9:15 p.m. which will be their first matchup since 1974.
