Rocco Becht dazzles as Iowa State trounces South Dakota

Rocco Becht dazzles as Iowa State trounces South Dakota

Rocco Becht completed 19 of 20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 22 Iowa State cruised to a 55-7 win over South Dakota on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.Benjamin Brahmer caugh

Rocco Becht completed 19 of 20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 22 Iowa State cruised to a 55-7 win over South Dakota on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.

Benjamin Brahmer caught seven passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns for Iowa State (2-0), which won its home opener one week after starting the season in Ireland. Gabe Burkle had four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Abu Sama III, Xavier Townsend, Alex Manske and Dylan Lee added one rushing touchdown apiece for the Cyclones, who outgained South Dakota 529-209.

Aidan Bouman completed 15 of 29 passes for 126 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for South Dakota (0-1). Bouman was making his return to Ames, where he was a reserve signal-caller for the Cyclones before transferring to the Coyotes to become a starter.

The score was even at 7-7 before the Cyclones closed the game with 48 unanswered points.

Iowa State started the scoring on its opening drive. Becht connected with Brahmer to cap a four-play, 75-yard drive that took only 1:50 off the clock.

South Dakota responded with a touchdown drive to quiet the Cyclones crowd. Bouman hit Larenzo Fenner for a 6-yard score with 5:44 remaining in the first quarter.

Iowa State took control for the rest of the game. Sama broke the tie when he sprinted down the left sideline for a 15-yard score to make it 14-7 with 1:12 to go in the first quarter.

Brahmer caught his second touchdown, this time on a 3-yard pass from Becht, to put the Cyclones on top 21-7 with 9:27 left in the first half. Kyle Konrardy added two field goals, including a 63-yarder that set a school record, to make it 27-7 at the half.

The Cyclones piled on two more touchdowns in the third quarter to grab a 41-7 lead. Burkle scored first on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Becht, and Townsend followed with an 11-yard touchdown run.

Another pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter gave Iowa a 55-7 advantage. Manske scored on a 4-yard run with 10:57 to go, and Lee punched in an 8-yard run with 4:22 left.