Iowa State storms to a 52-7 win over Arkansas State

AMES, Iowa – Matt Campbell is now number one on Iowa State’s all-time winners list.

Campbell earned his 56th.^th Victory with the 20th^th-ranked Cyclones in their 52-7 victory over Arkansas State at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, tying him with Dan McCarney for the most wins among ISU football coaches.

Three games into his ninth season at Iowa State, Campbell sits at 56-48 with a winning percentage of .538, the school's best in the modern era.

The Cyclones, who won 3-0 for the fourth time since 2010, made sure their coach didn't break a sweat even in 31-degree heat, taking a 31-0 lead Rocco Bechts Big-play passes and a revitalized running game that included Carson Hansen's Career day and I easily got through the second half.

Iowa State won for the 11th time.^th in a row when he scored at least 30 points and finished the season with season-highs of 490 total yards and 237 rushing yards. It was the Cyclones' biggest scoring outburst since a 59-7 win over Kansas on October 2, 2021.

The defense also did its part against a team that had just suffered a 28-18 loss to Michigan in the Big House, and kept the Red Wolves (2-2) at bay until less than five minutes before the end. The Cyclones held ASU to 64 yards in the running game and 182 yards in total, and spiced up that performance with interceptions from Jeremiah Cooper And Malik Verdon, Darien Porter's fourth punt block of his career and four sacks.

Becht averaged nearly 20 yards per pass, completing 11 of 18 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also scored a 1-yard touchdown before turning the game over to the rookie. Connor Moberly after a series in the third quarter.

Hansen is normally the team's short-yardage back, but became the primary ball carrier on Saturday. The 220-pound sophomore had career-highs of nine carries for 58 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of his career – a 1-yard run for the Cyclones' first touchdown and a 3-yard run up the middle to make it 38-0 in the third quarter.

Porter received an Arkansas State punt less than three minutes into the game and was awarded a block, putting the Cyclones at their own 40-yard line. Becht's 28-yard pass to Benjamin Brahmer A nice play and Hansen's 23-yard run brought ISU into the red zone and Hansen finished the six-play drive with his first collegiate touchdown.

Becht fell Jayden Higgins on what looked like a sure touchdown later in the first quarter, and then sent it on a deep route for 26 yards to the Arkansas State 28-yard line. Five plays later, Becht powered his way into the end zone to make it 14-0.

Kyle Konrardy's A 31-yard field goal put the team up 17-0 in the second quarter, and Becht found Brahmer on another big play the next time the Cyclones got the ball. He faked a quarterback sneak and then ran 24 yards up the middle to his tight end, where Brahmer stretched out to catch the ball at the ASU 23.

Becht finished the drive with a 10-yard flip to the tight end Tyler Moore and the Cyclones hadn't yet broken through in the first half. Verdon's interception and 38-yard Weaving return put the ball on the ASU 16 and Becht struck immediately, hitting Higgins on a lateral route for a touchdown and a 31-0 lead.

It was the fifth consecutive game in which Higgins caught a touchdown pass, tying the school record set by Todd Blythe and Ty Watley. Higgins finished the game with four catches for 65 yards, while Brahmer caught three balls for 73 yards.

Completions of 21 yards to Brahmer and 18 yards to Higgins set up Hansen’s second touchdown and Freshman Danielle shot unchallenged through the middle from 1 yard away and took a 45-0 lead. Another newcomer, Aiden Florarounded the left end on an 8-yard run to complete the scoring in the final minute.

Veteran transfer Jaylen Jackson increased the yardage with his most productive day as a Cyclone, running 10 times for 53 yards. In total, seven players carried the ball during the game and nine caught a pass.

Moberly, who led Southeast Polk to two state championships as quarterback, made a strong impression in his first extended appearance, completing 5 of 7 passes for 49 yards and running four times for 36 yards, including a 17-yard sprint that set up Flora's touchdown.

Iowa State is back on the road next weekend and plays at Houston on Saturday. Game time will be announced later.