Iowa State Cyclones

Game recap, analysis: Late scoring drive sends Iowa State to victory over Utah

Iowa State keeps hope alive with late rally at Utah, setting stage for massive game vs. Kansas State

Dana Becker

Carson Hansen scored the game-winning touchdown for Iowa State Saturday night, as the Cyclones topped Utah, 31-28.
Carson Hansen scored the game-winning touchdown for Iowa State Saturday night, as the Cyclones topped Utah, 31-28. / Rob Gray-Imagn Images

It was far from pretty or perfect, but Iowa State survived, besting Utah on the road, 31-28. With the win, the Cyclones (9-2, 6-2) positioned themselves for the biggest game in program history next Saturday inside Jack Trice Stadium in Ames at night.

Iowa State will play Kansas State next week, and thanks to all the chaos from earlier in the day, a win for Matt Campbell’s bunch will mean a trip to the Big 12 Conference title game in December.

Check out our live updates with in-game analysis and big-play highlights from Iowa State at Utah: 

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Final Stats

Rocco Becht completed 20 of 38 for 256 yards with a touchdown, adding a rushing score with his legs. Carson Hansen had 57 yards and the game-winning TD to go along with another touchdown, but it was Jayden Higgins who stole the show.

Higgins, part of a star WR tandem with Jaylin Noel, caught nine passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. He went over the 1,000-yard mark on the year and converted several key moments for his team. 

Noel finished with five receptions for 41 yards while Gabe Burkle, who caught a Hansen halfback pass on the final drive, added 41 yards receiving. 

Utah (4-7, 1-7), who lost quarterback Isaac Wilson to injury in the second half, nearly pulled off the comeback behind Luke Bottari. The seldom-used QB completed 5 of 9 for 55 yards while rushing for a team-high 47 yards. Micah Bernard had the lone offensive touchdown, as the Utes got a pick-6 and a blocked punt return for scores. 

Iowa State out-gained Utah 405-224, completing 50 percent of its third-down attempts and both fourth-down tries. The Utes were just 3 of 10 on third-down in the game.

Fourth Quarter Live Updates

End of fourth quarter: Iowa State 31, Utah 28

No good! Utah’s Cole Becker unsuccessful from 54 yards, as Iowa State is going to survive and win, 31-28. The Cyclones will play Kansas State, as a win will send them to the Big 12 title game.

Iowa State Touchdown! And the Cyclones have come roaring back, as Carson Hansen plunges into the end zone to give Iowa State a 31-28 lead with 1:31 to play. Hansen scores one play after connecting on a halfback pass to Gabe Burkle on third-down for 26 yards. A 10-play, 75-yard drive executed to perfection by Becht and Iowa State.

Trick play works! On third-and-1, Iowa State calls a halfback pitch, as Carson Hansen hits Gabe Burkle for 26 yards out of the break. Cyclones with the ball at the Utah 3.

Two-minute timeout: Iowa State marching down by four to Utah with two minutes to play. Star receiver Jayden Higgins surpassed 1,000 yards for the season on this drive. But the Cyclones need to get it into the end zone, as they have just one timeout left.

Utah touchdown: Luke Bottari showing his skills, coming in after the injury to Wilson and providing a huge spark to Utah. After a 40-yard run by Bottari, Utah scored on a 1-yard run by Micah Bernard with 5:51 left, giving them a 28-24 lead. Plenty of pressure now shifts over to Becht and the Iowa State offense, who trail for the first time since 3-0 in the opening quarter. The Utes covered 91 yards on 10 play, taking over six minutes off the clock.

Luke Bottari doing his best Cam Rising impersonation: Fifth-string QB Luke Bottari has come in off the bench and given the Utes a spark. Bottari with a 40-yard run on third-and-2 after completing a key 12-yard pass. 

Utah touchdown: Special teams continue to come up big for the Utes, as Jackson Bennee blocks a punt and David Washington falls on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, cutting it to a 24-21 lead for the Cyclones early in the fourth. The play comes just moments after Utah honored its seniors, including Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, who passed away. 

15 minutes to play: Iowa State has moved the ball out from the Utah end zone and is 15 minutes away from the biggest game in program history next Saturday at home vs. Kansas State.

Third Quarter Live Updates

End of third quarter: Iowa State 24, Utah 13

Injury for Utah QB: Isaac Wilson took off as the pocket collapsed and he didn’t get back up. Wilson, who hit his first eight passes, had to be helped off the field by medical staff and was not able to put any weight on his leg. Coming in for Wilson will be Luke Bottari, who spent three years at the College of San Mateo.

ISU Touchdown! After a pass interference in the end zone on Utah, the Cyclones capitalize, as Rocco Becht scores on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with the “tush push.” The drive started after the first turnover of the game by the Utes. The flag came on third-and-goal from the 9 and was questionable in the minds of the Utah fans in attendance. The drive also saw Iowa State escape what appeared to be a fumble, as the sideline had called a timeout just before the snap. The Cyclones lead 24-13 with 5:02 left in the third.

Turnover Iowa State! A miscue by Wilson results in the first turnover of the game for Utah, as Jack Sadowsky V recovers, giving the Cyclones the ball on the 23.

Missed opportunity for ISU: The Cyclones were unable to score on a strong drive, as the Utah defense forced a long field goal that missed. Iowa State leads 17-13 with just under nine to play in the third quarter. 

Acrobatic catch by Higgins! Jayden Higgins is having himself a game, giving the Cyclones a first down on their first drive of the second half with a catch along the sidelines. 

Halftime Stats

Iowa State has completely dominated the first 30 minutes but have just a four-point lead on the scoreboard. The Cyclones hold a 243-76 advantage in total yards and have 14 first downs to just two for the Utes, who are 0-for-4 on third-down attempts. 

Rocco Becht has completed 9 of 19 for 152 yards with a touchdown, adding to his school record for passing TDs in consecutive games. Jayden Higgins, who caught the TD, has three receptions for 81 yards while Carson Hansen has 42 yards rushing and a score. 

For Utah, Isaac Wilson has completed all five of his passes for 50 yards, as Daidren Zipperer has two receptions for 51 yards. The Utes have a pick-6 and recovered a muffed punt to set them up for a field goal.

Second Quarter Live Updates

End of second quarter: Iowa State 17, Utah 13

Iowa State field goal! The Cyclones add to their lead as Kyle Konrardy knocks through a 35-yard field goal with just 29 seconds left in the half. Iowa State leads Utah 17-13 after a seven-play, 58-yard drive results in three points. 

Becht-to-Higgins again! Rocco finds a streaking Higgins for 39 yards on the first play of the drive, giving Iowa State the ball at the Utah 36 with three-plus to go before half. Cyclones have 13 first downs already to just two for the Utes.

Utah field goal: Again, the Iowa State defense keeps points off the board, holding Utah to a 47-yard field goal by Cole Becker after a muffed punt. Iowa State leads 14-13 with 3:32 to play before half. Cyclones need to stop giving the Utes short fields to work with if they want to get out of Salt Lake City with a win.

ISU Touchdown! Becht and the Cyclones answer the pick-6, as Carson Hansen goes in from eight yards out for a hard-fought TD, giving Iowa State a 14-10 lead with just over eight to go. Becht hit Higgins for 35 yards on third-and-13, with a roughing the passer flag giving Iowa State the ball at the Utah 16. Becht found Carson Brown for 12 on third-and-10 earlier in the drive. Becht is already 8-for-17 for 113 yards passing. 

Pick-6 Utah: Just as everything seems to be going right for Iowa State, Becht makes a bad decision. A tipped ball winds up in the hands of Lander Barton, who goes 87 yards for a pick-6 to give Utah a 10-7 lead with 11:53 left. The Utes created a wall for him to dart through Cyclone players and go all the way.

Cyclones coming! After a short Utah punt, Iowa State is nearly at midfield following back-to-back first-down plays. Becht hit Gabe Burkle for 15 and Jaylon Jackson broke free for 12 yards.

First Quarter Live Updates

End of first quarter: Iowa State 7, Utah 3

ISU touchdown! The Cyclones take advantage of a huge Utah mistake, converting on third-and-goal with a Jayden Higgins seven-yard touchdown from Rocco Becht with 3:52 left in the first as Iowa State leads 7-3. The drive had a little bit of everything. Becht had a key fourth-down completion to Carson Hansen for 24 yards and a holding on the Utes on a missed fial goal attempt gave ISU new life. After two runs moved it to the 7, Becht found Higgins on a slant for six. 

Flag gives ISU goal-to-goal! A missed field goal doesn't hurt, as Utah is called for holding and the Cyclones have it first-and-goal.

ISU converts fourth-down! Rocco Becht found Carson Hansen coming out of the backfield on fourth-and-2 from the 43 for 24 yards and the third first down of the drive. 

Utah field goal: On the first play from scrimmage, Isaac Wilson, the brother of former top draft pick and Utah standout Zack Wilson, found Daidren Zipperer down the middle for 46 yards. Iowa State’s defense stepped up, though, forcing a successful 34-yard field goal by Cole Becker to give the Utes a 3-0 lead with 9:52 to play in the first. Wilson’s pass was the only one of the drive, as they proceeded to run the ball five times after.

Utah wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. Iowa State will start with the ball.

Pregame Updates

The Iowa State at Utah Big 12 football game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game airs live on FOX and streams on fuboTV. The conditions call for highs in the lower 50s and tailing off throughout the game with an 86 percent chance of rain. Minimal winds out of the west/northwest should not give troubles to the passing or kicking game.

Things took on even more importance before kickoff after conference co-leaders BYU and Colorado both lost. The Cougars fell to Arizona State while the Buffaloes were stunned by Kansas. BYU, Colorado, Arizona State and Iowa State all have two conference losses.

With a win over Utah and Kansas State next week, regardless of what happens to the other teams, Iowa State will secure a spot in the Big 12 title game.

More Iowa State & Big 12 Analysis

* How to watch Iowa State at Utah, latest betting odds

* What Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham had to say about the Cyclones

* Where does Iowa State land in the latest SP+ rankings from ESPN?

* ISU head coach Matt Campbell praises Utah, defense

Published |Modified
Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in north-central Iowa.

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