The Iowa State Cyclones opened up Big 12 play on Saturday as they traveled south to Waco, Texas to take on the Baylor Bears. Iowa State had won 2 of the last 3 matchups against Baylor coming into Saturday’s game.
The Cyclones started off the game like a poised football team, as Breece Hall punched in a 2-yard touchdown on Iowa State’s opening drive to put the Cyclones up 7-0. Baylor would answer right back, as the Bears drove the field on Iowa State, and a Gerry Bohanon touchdown tied the game at 7. The Bears would then strike again on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Bohanon to Tyquan Thorton to put Baylor up 14-7.
Iowa State would answer with a scoring drive, albeit a 40-yard field goal from Andrew Mevis to cut the score to 14-10. Baylor would hit another big play again, as tight end Ben Sims got behind the Cyclone defense for a 33-yard touchdown pass to put Baylor up 21-10. Iowa State would add another Andrew Mevis field goal at the end of the half to set the score at 21-13.
An Andrew Mevis field goal started the scoring in the 3rd quarter, cutting the Baylor lead to 21-16, before Trestan Ebner returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, to put the Bears up 28-16. The Cyclones would return to following Breece Hall, as he scored the 2nd of 3 touchdowns on the day to cut the score to 28-23. Baylor tacked on an Isaiah Hankins field goal, before Brock Purdy engineered a huge drive, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass to Breece Hall to bring the score to 31-29. On the ensuing 2-point conversion, Purdy fumbled the snap, attempted to throw under pressure, and was intercepted, to seal the Baylor win.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell: “Credit to Baylor, they made big plays in the moment, and honestly, credit to our kids. I thought our kids made some critical plays, in terms of staying the course. We didn’t play sharp early, but I really thought we played a great second half.”
Iowa State opens Big 12 play 0-1, and will host Kansas on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium with a 6 PM kickoff.