Ames, IA——Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht threw for a touchdown and ran for another as the Cyclones defeated Cincinnati 34-17 on Saturday night.
The Cyclones (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) relied on a strong second half to pull away from the resilient Bearcats (5-5, 3-4).
Becht connected with senior tight end Stevo Klotz on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, giving Iowa State a 17-10 lead they would not relinquish. Klotz, who has now scored in back-to-back games against Cincinnati, earned high praise from head coach Matt Campbell.
“He was incredible today for us,” Campbell said.
Becht’s rushing touchdown came on a broken play, taking a high snap 15 yards into the end zone late in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 27-17. Becht finished as the team’s leading rusher, tallying 48 yards on seven carries.
“Whenever the ball is in my hands, I can make a play with it,” Becht said.
Running back Carson Hansen scored the Cyclones’ first touchdown on a 2-yard run, marking his team-leading ninth touchdown of the season. Abu Sama III sealed the win with a 27-yard touchdown run in the final minutes.
“To watch our guys battle and stick in there was awesome to see,” Campbell added.
For Cincinnati, quarterback Brendan Sorsby completed 11 of 19 passes for 66 yards while dominating on the ground with 141 rushing yards on 14 carries, including a 41-yard touchdown run. Running back Evan Pryor opened the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run for the Bearcats.
The win solidifies Iowa State’s strong standing in the Big 12 as they push toward the postseason.
Up Next:
Cincinnati: Plays No. 16 Kansas State next Saturday.
Iowa State: Plays Utah next Saturday.
