WACO, Texas – Iowa State was unable to secure its first road win of the season, falling to Baylor on its homecoming weekend at McLane Stadium on Saturday afternoon by a score of 42-31.
The Cyclones (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) started hot, jumping out to an early 10-0 lead and controlling the first 20 minutes of the contest. Baylor (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) wrestled away momentum thanks to both an ISU missed 40-yard field goal and later a muffed punt as the Bears scored 21 points in the second quarter to take over control of the game.
ISU’s offense put 31 points on the board, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bears. The Cyclones’ 31 points are more than they’d scored in their other three road games combined and were the most that Baylor had allowed all season.
Aiden Flora tallied over 200 yards of total offense on the day, rushing for 182 and a score, while also hauling in four passes for 20 yards. With today’s output, Flora went over 1,00 rushing yards on the year. Jaylen Raynor finished the game 22-of-37 for 256 yards and a pair of TD passes while also running one in. Cameron Pettaway led the team in receiving yards with 53, collecting 50 on a long touchdown reception.
Sullivan Schlimgen led the defense in stops, collecting five tackles (3 solo) and a tackle for loss. For the first time since Oct. 3 against WVU, the Cyclone defense tallied multiple sacks, as both Blake Hawkins and Bryson Lamb got stops in the backfield. Kyle Konrardy banged home a 57-yard field goal in the game, his seventh 50-plus-yard kick, to break the ISU career record.
Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway finished with 18 completions for 229 yards and a pair of touchdown passes while also rushing for 119 yards and a score on 13 carries as he did it all for the Bears. Gavin Freeman was Lagway’s preferred target, as he brought in six completions to lead all players.
Though the Baylor defense didn’t force a turnover, it did enough to slow the Cyclone attack, with Micah Gifford leading the way with a game-high nine tackles (8 solo). Three other Bears picked up five-plus stops as the team finished with three sacks and nine tackles for loss.
The Cyclones held a 17-7 lead with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter, but 28 unanswered points from the Bears flipped the tide as Baylor’s offense chained multiple explosive plays together to claim the lead and control of the game. Baylor scored 21 points in each half, converting four scores on the ground and two through the air.
UP NEXT
Iowa State will be back in the Jack on November 14 to welcome Cincinnati to Ames. The kickoff time is TBA, coverage on KSOM.
