No. 24/22 North Dakota drops 21-3 decision at Iowa State

AMES, Iowa – Despite outgaining Iowa State (1-0) on the ground by an 174-86 margin, North Dakota (0-1) fell, 21-3, at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Iowa State did not pull away on the scoreboard until early in the fourth quarter when Rocco Becht scored on a two-yard rush to bring the score to 21-3 in favor of the Cyclones.

In the game, North Dakota moved the ball against Iowa State and racked up 295 yards of offense, highlighted by 174 on the ground. Isaiah Smith led the rushing attack with 50 yards rushing on 12 touches, followed by Simon Romfo with 44 yards on 11 attempts.

Romfo went 17-for-30 through the air for 121 yards passing while giving up one interception. In total, Romfo accounted for 165 yards of total offense. Bo Belquist was Romfo’s top target and hauled in six grabs for 43 yards.

Becht paced the Cyclone offense and was 20-for-26 passing for 267 yards and two scores. He also pushed ahead for the two-yard rushing touchdown to bring the tally to 21-3 early in the final stanza.

Jaylin Noel was the top ISU receiver with eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. Jaylin Higgins also had five grabs for 75 yards and a score.

North Dakota trailed 14-3 at intermission. Iowa State scored on its opening drive when Becht found Higgins for a 21-yard score to cap a two-play, 75-yard drive and held the 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Fighting Hawks found the scoreboard with three minutes left in the half when C.J. Elrichs booted home a 26-yard field goal to finish a 23-play, 88-yard drive that consumed 12:24 of clock. On their next possession, the Cyclones scored a touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Becht to Noel that put an exclamation point on a 65-yard drive that only consumed 2:12 of clock and carried the 14-3 lead into the break.

In the opening half, UND chewed up 22:29 of clock and had 173 yards of offense. ISU had 179 yards of offense, with 168 yards coming through the air. Romfo was 11-for-16 for 79 yards and picked up eight yards on the ground. Becht went 10-for-14 for 168 yards and two scores and rushed one time for five yards.

North Dakota will host No. 3 Montana with a 6 p.m. kick inside the Alerus Center on Saturday. The game will air on Midco Sports and will be carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.

Postgame Notes

• North Dakota is now 0-1 all-time in the series against Iowa State.
• The 21 points were the fewest UND has allowed an FBS opponent since beating Wyoming, 24-13, in 2015. This is also the second fewest points UND has allowed against an FBS opponent and fewest against a Power 4 since moving to Division I in 2008.
• UND is now 5-2 in its last seven season openers.
• With six catches today, Bo Belquist is now only five grabs away from breaking UND’s Division I career receptions record. Greg Hardin (2010-13) is the current record holder with 216 grabs in his career. Belquist has 212.
• The Fighting Hawks outgained the Cyclones on the ground, 174-86. ISU racked up 353 yards of total offense, while UND had 295 yards of offense.
• Antonio Bluiett led the NoDak defense with five total tackles. Josh Navratil and Jack Teiken each recorded 1.0 tackles-for-loss.
• NoDak accumulated 37:51 minutes of possession in the game.
• Iowa State finished the game +1.0 in turnover margin, picking off one pass.

How It Happened
First Quarter
14:22 – ISU | Jayden Higgins scores on a 21-yard pass from Rocco Becht. (Kyle Konrardy kick). 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:17.
Second Quarter
3:00 – UND | C.J. Elrichs connects on a 26-yard field goal. 23 plays, 88 yards, 12:24.
0:48 – ISU | Jaylin Noel scores on a 14-yard pass from Becht. (Konrardy kick). 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:12.
Third Quarter
–
Fourth Quarter
12:33 – ISU | Becht scores on a two-yard rush. (Konrardy kick). 12 plays, 96 yards, 6:54.

Game Recap: Football | 8/31/2024 6:30:00 PM | Tyler Wells, FightingHawks.com