No. 11 BYU took advantage of several Iowa State miscues and held the Cyclones without a touchdown in the second half en route to a 41-27 Big 12 victory Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.
The mistakes started with a muffled punt by the Cyclones (5-3, 2-3 Big 12), and three plays later, with a pressure to the face, Bear Bachmeier found Parker Kingston — who had a defender around him — for a 27-yard touchdown for a 34-27 lead with 14:21 to play.
Bachmeier and Kingston teamed up often for BYU (8-0, 5-0), connecting seven times for 133 yards and two scores. Overall, true freshman Bachmeier completed 22 of 35 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a team-high 49 yards and a score. Chase Roberts added eight catches for 128 yards.
Two plays after Bachmeier and Kingston connected, ISU’s Rocco Becht threw an interception that sent Faletau Satuala 40 yards into the end zone with 13:40 left.
Becht completed 24 of 36 passes for 311 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Carson Hansen, who returned from a concussion after missing last week’s game, had 152 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.
BYU opened the second half with the ball, settling for a 27-yard field goal from Will Ferrin to cut the deficit to 24-20.
Bachmeier then put the Cougars back in front 27-24 with a designed 9-yard run with 4:33 left in the third.
Kyle Konrardy tied the score at 27 on a 43-yarder with 1:47 left in the third before the fourth-quarter explosions.
The Cyclones came out hot, scoring on four of their first five drives and outscoring the Cougars 318-214 in the first half.
On the first play from scrimmage, Becht found Brett Eskildsen streaking down the sideline for a 75-yard bomb just nine seconds later.
BYU responded with a 68-yard drive capped by a 4-yard run by LJ Martin to tie it at 7 about 2 1/2 minutes later.
Martin, who entered the day as the Big 12’s leader, was injured in the first quarter and was ruled out after gaining 15 yards on five carries.
Hansen found the end zone on two short runs, and the teams traded field goals to make it 24-10, Iowa State with 1:52 left in the half.
Bachmeier led an 80-second drive that ended with a 12-yard Kingston receiving TD to cut BYU’s deficit to 24-17.
It was the Cougars’ first victory against the Cyclones in a series dating back to 1968.
–Field level media
