Rocco Becht saves Cyclones with late touchdown drive in No. 9 Iowa State's 38-35 win over UCF
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht sends the ball downfield to a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. Credit: AP/Matthew Putney
AMES, Iowa — Rocco Becht scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard sneak with 30 seconds left, and Jontez Williams intercepted Jacurri Brown's last pass to secure No. 9 Iowa State's 38-35 comeback victory over UCF and allow the Cyclones to avoid a major upset Saturday night.
“I was just doing my job,” said Williams, who has had an interception in four straight games. “The ball has just been coming to me and I've been making the play.”
The Cyclones (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) have matched the 1938 ISU team for best start in program history, and they have won four straight conference games for the first time.
UCF (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) lost its fourth straight after leading by two touchdowns early in the third quarter and rushing for 354 yards — a season-high 196 by RJ Harvey and 154 by Brown.
“They've got great players with two phenomenal athletes,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. “This was the most athletically talented team we've played this year.”
Becht completed a season-low 43% of his passes (20 of 46) and threw two interceptions, the first one returned for a touchdown and the second nearly a pick-six, but he ran a career-high 20 times for 97 yards.
Harvey's 1-yard run put UCF up 35-27 with 11 minutes left after Braeden Marshall picked off Becht's pass and ran it back 70 yards before dropping the ball just short of the goal line.
Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins pulls free from Central Florida defensive back Chasen Johnson (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. Credit: AP/Matthew Putney
Kyle Konrardy's 30-yard field goal got the Cyclones within five points, and after Iowa State forced two punts, Becht got the ball back with 1:48 left.
He teamed up with Jaylin Noel for two key passes and scrambled for a first down before a pass interference penalty set up the Cyclones at the UCF 4. Becht ran for 3 yards before bulling his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown.
“The precision and detail was there on that drive and we executed it well,” Becht said.
The Takeaway
UCF: The Knights ran for the most yards against the Cyclones since Matt Campbell's first team gave up 469 yards to Baylor in 2016.
Central Florida quarterback Jacurri Brown reacts to the fans as he runs in a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. Credit: AP/Matthew Putney
Iowa State: The Cyclones have had the Big 12's best defense but has struggled stopping the run.
Poll Implications
Iowa State should hold steady in the Top 25, if not move up a bit.
Up Next
UCF: hosts No. 13 BYU next Saturday.
Iowa State: hosts Texas Tech on Nov. 2 following an open date.
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