Iowa State football: Cyclones top Miami in Pop-Tarts Bowl thriller

Posted by Admin December 29, 2024 Football

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Fire up the toaster.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy is headed to Ames, and while the breakfast pastry is sweet, the giant edible version of the treat tasted even sweeter after another come-from-behind, dramatic win for Iowa State football.

The 19th-ranked Cyclones earned the win Saturday over the 16th-ranked Miami Hurricanes thanks to a Rocco Becht quarterback sneak for the decisive touchdown and Kyle Konrardy’s game-winning point-after attempt with 56 seconds left in the game to cap a 42-41 season-finale thriller.

Drew Surges picked off Miami’s last-second desperate heave to secure the win on the final play of the game.

It was Iowa State’s first bowl victory since the 2020 season, when the Cyclones defeated Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. Saturday also marked Iowa State’s fifth go-ahead drive in crunch time this season. The Cyclones notched late game-winning drives against Iowa, UCF and Utah. They also came through in the closing minutes of the Texas Tech game, but the Red Raiders cracked the Iowa State defense and answered back.

Iowa State finished the year with a program-best record of 11-3.

Iowa State finally forced Miami to punt for the first time in the game late in the fourth quarter. The Cyclones gained possession of the ball with 6:34 left in the game.

The decisive drive featured a couple of first-down receptions by Jaylin Noel to bring the Cyclones deep into Miami territory. Iowa State went for it on a tense fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, and Becht punched it in for the winning play.

Becht completed 22-of-35 passes for 270 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 23 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Noel led Iowa State with eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Gabe Burkle had four receptions for 54 yards and his first touchdown reception. Isaiah Alston caught two passes for 52 yards.

Carson Hansen had 16 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Cael Brezina and Ta’Shawn James each had a fumble recovery.

Heisman Trophy finalist and projected first-round draft pick Cam Ward played only in the first half of the game. He exited after completing 12-of-19 passes for 190 yards, three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Ward surpassed Case Keenum, who recorded 155 passing touchdowns at Houston from 2007-11, for the Division I all-time career passing touchdowns record. Ward finished with 158 career passing touchdowns.

Even in Ward’s absence, the Hurricanes found plenty of success rushing the ball. Of their 33 second-half plays, they ran the ball 20 times for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Becht threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Noel to trim the deficit to 38-35 with 2:20 left in the third quarter.

Iowa State got a goal-line stop and the Hurricanes opted for a chip-shot field goal to make it 41-35 with 9:40 remaining in the game.

Emory Williams went under center after halftime for Miami and completed 5-of-14 passes for 26 yards.

Damien Martinez ran for a game-high 179 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Mark Fletcher Jr. had 12 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Joshisa Trader had three receptions for 61 yards, while Elijah Arroyo added four receptions and 64 yards. Trader, Arroyo and Jacolby George each caught touchdown passes.

The Hurricanes were without All-American wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who did not participate in Saturday’s bowl game. The Cyclones were without receiver Jayden Higgins and defensive back Malik Verdon.

Miami took a 31-28 halftime lead with a last-minute field goal before the break. It was the highest-scoring first half in a bowl game since LSU defeated Oklahoma in the 2019 Peach Bowl en route to a national title. The Tigers won that game, 63-28, in a first half that featured a combined 63 points.

Both teams traded touchdowns in a back-and-forth shootout to begin the game. Iowa State scored touchdowns on each of its first four drives.

Miami responded after fumbling the ball away on the first play of scrimmage on a botched snap.

Ward connected with Arroyo for a 33-yard touchdown pass. After Beau Freyler exited the game with an injury, Ward lobbed a pass to an open Arroyo for the game-tying touchdown to make it 28-28 with 9:25 left in the second quarter.

The Cyclones had the first punt of the game when they stalled out on their next possession after the Hurricanes tied the score.

Miami crossed midfield, but it fumbled the ball away for a second time and the Cyclones recovered inside their own territory. Iowa State stalled out on downs inside Miami territory.

The Hurricanes marched downfield but after a third-and-goal incompletion, they were able to get a field goal to take 31-28 lead before halftime.

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.