Ames, Iowa — Quarterback Rocco Becht delivered a nearly flawless performance on Saturday, throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns — two of them to tight end Benjamin Brahmer — as No. 22 Iowa State rolled to a 55-7 victory over South Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium.
Becht was razor-sharp from the opening snap, completing his first 14 passes and finishing the game 19-of-20, setting a new school record with a 95% completion rate. He also extended his school-best streak by throwing a touchdown in his 20th consecutive game.
“He just finds ways to lead and execute,” said head coach Matt Campbell. “I told him before the game, ‘Just go out there and win,’ and he did exactly that.”
With the win, Iowa State improves to 2-0 on the season, following a 24-21 win over Kansas State in Ireland last week. It’s the fourth time under Campbell that the Cyclones have started the season with back-to-back victories.
Tight Ends Take Over
Becht found a rhythm with his big targets all game. Brahmer hauled in seven catches for 47 yards and two scores, while fellow tight end Gabe Burkle added four receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Of the 23 total completions by Becht and backup Alex Manske, 13 were caught by tight ends.
“When your tight ends are that dynamic, they open up a lot of the field,” Campbell noted. “Big targets like that make a huge difference.”
Record-Breaking Kick
Kicker Kyle Konrardy added his name to the Iowa State record books by drilling a 63-yard field goal as time expired in the first half — the longest in program history and the second-longest in Big 12 history, behind Martin Gramatica’s 65-yarder for Kansas State in 1998.
“You know when you hit it right,” Konrardy said. “I just focus on fundamentals and trust the preparation.”
Campbell didn’t hesitate to send him out. “He’s earned that trust. It was executed perfectly.”
Ground Game and Defense Dominate
Running back Dylan Lee led the Cyclones on the ground, rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown, all coming in the second half as Iowa State bled the clock and protected its lead.
Defensively, the Cyclones kept South Dakota in check all game long. Former Iowa State quarterback Aidan Bouman, now with the Coyotes, was held to 15-of-29 passing for 126 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
South Dakota’s lone score came in the first quarter on a 6-yard pass from Bouman to Larenzo Fenner. But from there, the Coyotes were shut down, unable to keep up with the Top 25 opponent.
“We just didn’t play well enough today,” said South Dakota head coach Travis Johansen. “We know what’s ahead of us, and this game shows how much work we have to do.”
Quick Notes:
Iowa State improved to 10-0 all-time against South Dakota, including 8-0 in Ames.
The Cyclones have allowed only 19 points total in their history against the Coyotes.
The Cyclones outgained South Dakota 536-240 in total yardage.
What’s Next:
South Dakota heads to Texas to face Lamar next Saturday.
Iowa State returns home to host in-state rival Iowa in the always-heated Cy-Hawk game.
