(Ames, IA) — The bleeding did not become a gusher — Iowa St. stopped the bleeding and remains in contention for the Big 12 regular season title with a 34-17 win over Cincinnati.
Sophomore QB Rocco Becht put the Cyclones on his shoulders and carried them to victory lane. Becht was 24-33 passing for 234 yards and 1 TD plus had a 15 yard TD run with 4 minutes left to make it a 2 score game.
Both teams traded rushing TDs in the 1st quarter — Evan Pryor for UC from 12 yards out to score first. ISU answered with a 2 yard TD run from Carter Hansen. Both teams traded field goals in the 2nd quarter and it was tied 10-10 at the half.
Becht led Iowa St. on the opening drive of the 2nd half and found Stevo Klotz for a 26 yard go ahead TD pass. A 52 yard Kurt Konrardy field goal made it 20-10. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby answered with a 41 yard TD run to make it a one score game again. Then Becht was able to handle a high snap and score his TD and Abu Sama put the icing on the cake with a 27 yard TD to finish it off.
Neither Jayden Higgins (6 catches for 69 yards) nor Jaylin Noel (6 catches for 43 yards) found the end zone which is unusual for the Cyclones. Sama finished with 12 carries for 52 yards and 1 TD.
Cincinnati falls to 5-5 and still needs one more win to become bowl eligible — the Bearcats will visit Kansas St. and host TCU to end the regular season.
Iowa St. is now 8-2 and will visit Utah next week followed by a game at Jack Trice Stadium with Kansas St.
