“Eff it, let’s kick it,” Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell told placekicker Kyle Konrardy prior to his school record 63-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the first half of Saturday’s game.
Even though the field goal only amounted to three of the now-No. 16 (AP poll) Cyclones’ 55 points in the victory over now-No. 6 South Dakota (Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll), the redshirt sophomore from Dubuque is one of eight Football Bowl Subdivision players ever to connect on a field goal from exactly 63 yards away.
“I think the thing that was critical for Iowa State today is we had to improve,” Campbell said of the blowout win, just a week after beating Kansas State 24-21 in Dublin, Ireland. “You know, there were some areas that we didn’t play as well last week, and I thought we took some really positive steps forward.”
Cyclones show strength, demonstrate depth
On Iowa State’s first possession, quarterback Rocco Becht connected with Brett Eskildsen for a 66-yard gain, setting up a quick 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Benjamin Brahmer just 1:50 into the game.
South Dakota briefly answered. The Coyotes strung together a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by former Cyclone Aidan Bouman’s 3-yard scoring toss to Larenzo Fenner, knotting the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. But that was as close as it would get.
The Cyclones dominated the rest of the half. Abu Sama took a direct snap 15 yards for a touchdown to close the first quarter with a 14-7 lead. On South Dakota’s next drive, defensive back Jamison Patton intercepted Bouman in the red zone, and Iowa State quickly turned the takeaway into points as Becht found Brahmer again for his second touchdown.
Freshman kicker Konrardy added a 28-yard field goal to extend the margin. Then, after the defense stuffed the Coyotes on fourth down, the Cyclones hurried into range for Konrardy’s booming 63-yard field goal as time expired in the half. That Cyclone record-breaker sent Iowa State into the locker room with a commanding 27-7 lead.
More points, player auditions
The third quarter only widened the gap. A long punt return by freshman Aiden Flora set up Becht’s 16-yard touchdown strike to tight end Gabe Burkle. Backup quarterback Alex Manske then entered and promptly led a two-play scoring drive, capped by Xavier Townsend’s 11-yard rushing touchdown. By the end of the third, the Cyclones had stretched their lead to 41-7.
The fourth quarter became an audition for ISU’s depth, and the reserves delivered. Manske scored on a short quarterback keeper to make it 48-7. Then, with just over a minute left, running back Carson Hansen broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run, putting the finishing touch on a 55-7 victory.
By night’s end, Iowa State scored 55 unanswered points after South Dakota’s lone first-quarter drive. Becht was efficient through the air (completing 19 of 20 for a school record 95%), Brahmer hauled in two touchdowns, Sama and Townsend added ground scores, and Hansen’s late burst punctuated a balanced offensive showing.
“There’s always, you know, those little areas that you could always get better at,” Becht said. “We’re going to be able to find those on the film and get better for it next week.”
The defense, meanwhile, smothered South Dakota after its opening march, forcing a pair of interceptions and flipping momentum.
Iowa State takes on in-state rival Iowa at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ames.
