6 days Ago
AMES — Just because Iowa State ended up with a comfortable margin of victory doesn’t mean a critical coaching decision at the end of the first half should go overlooked. Iowa State beat Cincinnati 34-17 in Jack Trice Stadium Saturday — its first win by more than two scores since Oct. 5 (against Baylor).
After two straight losses, the Cyclones, who won their first seven games, could finally celebrate a win without having to sweat out a close finish. But the game didn’t always feel like a comfortable ISU win. It took a gutsy coaching decision at the end of the first half to turn the game in ISU’s favor.
With 1:07 left in the first half, Cincinnati gained possession at its own 20-yard line. The Bearcats held a 10-7 lead and were looking to add on. ISU defensive tackle Domonique Orange broke through the center of Cincinnati’s offensive line and took a sharp angle to get to running back Evan Pryor.
Pryor had gotten wide for a screen pass but an off-target throw from quarterback Brendan Sorsby pulled him backward and Orange twisted him down for a seven-yard loss. It was then, with Cincinnati facing a second-and-17 from its own 13-yard line, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell had a hunch to call the first of three timeouts. The decision froze the clock at 59 seconds.
“Once we got a minus play there I felt really confident,” Campbell said. “I don’t want to take those timeouts back into the locker room and maybe we could get the ball back.” Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) tackles Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov.
16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Orange tackled the scrambling Sorsby on the next two possessions and Campbell used his remaining two timeouts, forcing a punt with 49 seconds left. Three consecutive defensive stops were the highlight of a triumphant return for Orange, who missed ISU’s last game against Kansas.
“I think (Orange) made three great plays right before the half,” Campbell said. “And he made them at nose (tackle), which was exciting because we’ve kind of been moving Dom around. It was great to see him kind of back at times in the middle of the defense and I thought he made some really big plays in some critical moments.
” Cincinnati punter Mason Fletcher hit a short punt that landed at the Cincinnati 48-yard line and bounced straight backward to the 38. A struggling ISU offense was suddenly in business. With no timeouts and 35 seconds to work with, experienced quarterback Rocco Becht managed the time well.
He stopped the clock with a throw-away, a 15-yard first-down throw to Jayden Higgins and a spike. On third-and-10 from the Cincinnati 23-yard line, Becht threw threw a short out-route to senior Jaylen Noel to make the field goal even shorter. Kicker Kyle Konrardy hooked in a 37-yard field goal as part of a perfect day that included a field goal from 52 yards and four extra points.
Iowa State place kicker Kyle Konrardy (97) celebrates with teammates after kicking a 35-yard field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Konrardy’s score tied the game at 10 and gave Iowa State momentum heading into halftime.
Without Orange making three consecutive stops and Campbell backing his defense with his timeouts, Cincinnati could have established a two-score lead going into the locker room. Iowa State outscored Cincinnati 24-7 in the second half, more than doubling its total yards from 114 to 272. The second-half surge was set up with disciplined defense, a coach that believed in his team and smart offense.
“I thought Rocco did a good job of navigating that scene,” Campbell said. “We were out of timeouts, we did a good job staying ahead of the clock. I think we had a clock play and got the ball out of bounds and it was a great kick by Kyle.
Kyle was awesome tonight.” Ben.Hutchens@lee.
net Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items..
