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The Des Moines Register
RECAP: Iowa State defeats Fighting Hawks 21-3
By Alyssa Hertel, Des Moines Register,
10 hours ago
Iowa State football opened the 2024 season with North Dakota in the first-ever matchup between the two programs.
And the Cyclones started the season with a win, beating the Fighting Hawks, 21-3, at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.
The Cyclones started the scoring off early. Rocco Becht sent a 54-yard pass into the hands of Jaylin Noel on the opening play of the game, then found Jayden Higgins on a 21-yard touchdown pass to set the tone in the first minute of the game.
Iowa State didn't add any points after that, though, and it took until well into the second quarter for the Cyclones to add another touchdown.
North Dakota State picked up a field goal in the second quarter, and the score remains at 14-3 at after two quarters.
After a scoreless third quarter on both sides, Becht scored another touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak. The rest of the time ticked off the clock as the Cyclones celebrated the win.
Follow along here for live updates throughout the Iowa State-North Dakota matchup.
Becht held on to the ball for a two-yard quarterback sneak for the Cyclones' third touchdown of the game. Iowa State leads North Dakota, 21-3, in the fourth quarter.
Iowa State starts off the second quarter with the ball in their hands, thanks to an interception from Beau Freyler. Simon Romfo threw a deep pass down the middle that Freyler was perfectly positioned to pick off.
He returned it 24 yards and the Cyclones will take over from the 39-yard line.
Iowa State's quarterback sent a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jaylin Noel - and took a hard hit like a champ in the process - to give the Cyclones an 11-point lead over North Dakota.
CJ Elrichs' 26-yard field goal is good, and North Dakota gets on the scoreboard for the first time in this game. Iowa State leads, 7-3, with three minutes until halftime.
It looked like Iowa State got its first pick of the game. Simon Romfo's short pass up the middle was grabbed by Beau Freyler, who made a diving catch to get the ball before it fell to the ground.
But the officials reviewed the play and determined that the ball did touch the ground, ruling it an incomplete pass.
The Cyclones scored just 38 seconds into the game, off two long passes from Rocco Becht. But Iowa State hasn't managed to muster much of anything else after, and it remains just one touchdown on the scoreboard.
It took just two plays for Iowa State to take the lead. Rocco Becht passed for 75 yards - including the 21-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins - to set the tone early in Saturday's matchup against North Dakota.
The Cyclones' season opener will air on Fox Sports 2 until the Maryland vs. UConn game ends. The game will move to Fox Sports 1 as planned following the conclusion of the other game.
Iowa State vs. North Dakota will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports 1. Eric Collins and Spencer Tillman will call the game from the booth at Jack Trice Stadium. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers .
Iowa State vs. North Dakota history
Series record: 0-0
Travis Hines' Iowa State vs. North Dakota prediction
Iowa State 49, North Dakota 7: The Cyclones have the talent and experience to make quick work of their visitors on Saturday, and I anticipate that's exactly what they'll do.
The Cyclones will be without wide receiver Daniel Jackson and linebacker Carson Willich . Campbell confirmed in mid-August that Jackson would miss most or all of the season with a leg injury, and Willich suffered a season-ending injury during spring practice in April.
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