No. 11 BYU capitalized on multiple Iowa State mistakes and held the Cyclones without a touchdown in the second half en route to a 41-27 Big 12 victory on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.
The mistakes started with a muffed punt by the Cyclones (5-3, 2-3 Big 12), and three plays later with pressure in his face, Bear Bachmeier found Parker Kingston — who had a defender draped all over him — for a 27-yard touchdown for a 34-27 lead with 14:21 left.
Bachmeier and Kingston linked up often for BYU (8-0, 5-0), connecting seven times for 133 yards and two scores. Overall, the true freshman Bachmeier completed 22 of 35 passes for 307 yards and two TDs and ran for a team-high 49 yards and a score. Chase Roberts added eight grabs for 128 yards.
Two plays after Bachmeier and Kingston’s hookup, ISU’s Rocco Becht threw an interception that Faletau Satuala returned 40 yards to the end zone with 13:40 left.
Becht finished 24-of-36 passing for 311 yards with a TD and three interceptions. Carson Hansen, who returned from a concussion after missing last week’s game, rushed for 152 yards on 16 carries and two TDs.
BYU opened the second half with the ball, settling for a Will Ferrin 27-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24-20.
Bachmeier then put the Cougars back in front 27-24 with a 9-yard designed run with 4:33 left in the third.
Kyle Konrardy tied the game at 27 on a 43-yarder with 1:47 left in the third before the fourth-quarter outbursts.
The Cyclones came out hot, scoring on four of their first five drives and outgaining the Cougars 318-214 in the first half.
On the first play from scrimmage, Becht found Brett Eskildsen streaking down the sideline for a 75-yard bomb just nine seconds in.
BYU responded with a 68-yard drive capped off by a 4-yard rush from L.J. Martin to tie it at 7 about 2 1/2 minutes later.
Martin, who entered the day as the Big 12’s leading rusher, was injured in the first quarter and was ruled out after gaining 15 yards on five carries.
Hansen found the end zone on a pair of short runs, and the teams traded field goals to make it 24-10 Iowa State with 1:52 left in the half.
Bachmeier led a drive in 80 seconds that ended with a Kingston 12-yard reception TD to cut BYU’s deficit to 24-17.
This was the Cougars’ first win over the Cyclones in a series dating back to 1968.
