Morgantown, WV—-Iowa State may not have had the spotlight of a high-profile matchup, but the stakes were high as they aimed to improve their record to 6-0 against West Virginia.
Carson Hansen rushed for three touchdowns, while quarterback Rocco Becht threw for another, leading No. 11 Iowa State to a 28-16 victory on Saturday night. This marks the Cyclones’ (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) first six-win start to a season since 1938.
The Cyclones pulled away in the second half, scoring two touchdowns following interceptions of West Virginia’s Garrett Greene. Becht connected with Eli Green on back-to-back passes of 12 and 34 yards, positioning Iowa State at the West Virginia 17. A crucial holding penalty on Mountaineers cornerback Ayden Garnes granted the Cyclones a first-and-goal at the 3, where Hansen quickly scored, extending their lead to 21-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Moments later, Jontez Williams intercepted Greene for the third time this season, allowing Iowa State to take over at the Mountaineers’ 34. Hansen contributed a 20-yard run on this drive, which concluded with his 2-yard touchdown run, pushing the Cyclones ahead 28-10 with just 4:42 remaining.
Hansen, a sophomore who also scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter, finished the game with 96 rushing yards, just shy of the career-high 97 he set against Baylor last week. During an injury-plagued freshman season, he totaled only 67 rushing yards.
Becht completed 18 of 26 passes for 265 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to Jaylin Noel, who capitalized on blown coverage in the second quarter.
After the first quarter, Becht’s father, Anthony, was honored on the field for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Anthony Becht played tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996 to 1999 and enjoyed an 11-season career in the NFL. “You couldn’t ask for a greater night for his family,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell.
Rocco Becht expressed his desire to be present for his father’s honor but acknowledged the importance of focusing on the game. “I had bigger things going on trying to win this game,” he said.
For West Virginia, Jahiem White contributed with an 8-yard scoring run and a 10-yard touchdown catch. Greene finished the night 18 of 32 for 206 yards.
The Takeaway
Iowa State: The Cyclones excelled on both sides of the ball, marking their seventh consecutive road win. Becht demonstrated smart and efficient play, while the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense remained strong.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers struggled with critical mistakes at key moments, leading to their eighth straight loss against ranked opponents.
Looking ahead, Iowa State will host UCF next Saturday night, while West Virginia will face No. 18 Kansas State for their homecoming on the same night.
