Cyclones Open 2023 With 30-9 Victory Over UNI

AMES, Iowa – Sophomore Jeremiah Cooper set the tone with an early pick-6 as one of the youngest Iowa State teams in years opened the season with a dominating victory.

Redshirt freshman Rocco Becht accounted for three touchdowns in his first start at quarterback, Cooper added a second interception and new placekicker Chase Contreraz booted a 56-yard field goal, sending the Cyclones past Northern Iowa 30-9 on Saturday in oven-like conditions at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.

.@jeremiah1cooper house call 👀

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— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) September 2, 2023

Iowa State beat the FCS Panthers for the fourth-straight time behind another outstanding performance from its defense, some timely throws from Becht and some big plays on special teams, an area that often has been a concern for the Cyclones.

With some freshmen and sophomores playing key roles, the defense bottled up the Panthers and their outstanding quarterback, Theo Day, for most of the afternoon. UNI managed only 169 yards through three quarters and finished with 279, the 16^th-straight time ISU has held an opponent to fewer than 400 yards. The Cyclones sacked Day five times and record nine tackles for a loss in all.

That defense showed itself early on a day the temperature reached the mid-90s. On the fifth snap of the game, Cooper read the play perfectly, sprinted in front of receiver Sam Schnee to grab Day's pass and sped untouched down the left sideline to put the Cyclones up 7-0 after Contreraz added the extra point.

Becht, who saw only limited action as a backup last season, completed 10 of 13 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also scored on a 1-yard sneak, which made it 14-0 late in the first quarter.

The lead grew to 20-0 when Becht hit sophomore tight end Tyler Moore on a 14-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half.

The Cyclones got the ball right back when Cooper picked off Day in the middle of the field and returned it 30 yards to the UNI 38 with 4 seconds left. Coach Matt Campbell sent Contreraz onto the field and the transfer from Nebraska drilled a 56-yard field goal into the wind as time expired to make it 23-0. It was the fifth-longest field goal in school history.

Iowa State struck again at the start of the second half, Becht hitting freshman tight end Benjamin Brahmer in stride down the right sideline on a 36-yard scoring play.

Sophomore punter Tyler Perkins did his job, averaging 53.6 yards on eight kicks, including a 70-yarder that Darien Porter downed at the UNI 2 in the first quarter. It was the first 70-yard kick by an ISU punter since Kirby Van Der King boomed a 74-yarder at Texas on Oct. 23, 2010.

Jaylin Noel racked up 60 yards on two punt returns, including a 39-yarder that set up Becht's touchdown. Noel also caught four passes to run his career total to 103 in 26 games, matching Otto Stowe as the third-fastest in school history to reach 100.

Touted freshman J.J. Kohl got some time at quarterback and completed 4 of his 5 passes. Another promising freshman, running back Abu Sama, showed some elusiveness in gaining 40 yards in six carries. Sophomore Cartevious Norton led the running game with 50 yards in 11 carries.

Day, who threw for 3,121 yards and 26 touchdowns last fall, was under pressure much of the time and finished 16-of-34 for 164 yards and one touchdown, which came with 11:30 left in the game and the Cyclones up 30-3.

3️⃣ ➡ 8️⃣2️⃣

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— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) September 2, 2023

Iowa State will remain at home next Saturday, hosting Iowa in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk game at 2:30 p.m.

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Team Stats

Rocco Becht

JJ Kohl

Players Mentioned

Rocco Becht

Benjamin Brahmer

Chase Contreraz

Jeremiah Cooper

Tyler Moore

Jaylin Noel

Cartevious Norton

Tyler Perkins

Darien Porter

Players Mentioned

Rocco Becht

Benjamin Brahmer

Chase Contreraz

Jeremiah Cooper

Tyler Moore

Jaylin Noel

Cartevious Norton

Tyler Perkins

Darien Porter

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