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  • No. 16 Iowa State Knocks Off Iowa, 16–13, In A Defensive Thriller To Win The Cy-Hawk Rivalry

No. 16 Iowa State Knocks Off Iowa, 16–13, In A Defensive Thriller To Win The Cy-Hawk Rivalry

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(BCSNN) — No. 16 Iowa State held off a late Iowa rally to secure a 16–13 win in the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium, marking the Cyclones’ first home victory in the series under head coach Matt Campbell. The game was defined by defensive grit and clutch special teams, with Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy drilling a 54-yard field goal with under two minutes remaining to seal the win.

Cyclones defensive back Marcus Neal Jr. led the charge with a career-best performance, tallying nine tackles (five solo), two tackles for loss, and a fourth-quarter sack that helped stall Iowa’s final drive. Neal’s pressure on quarterback Mark Gronowski contributed to back-to-back sacks that forced the Hawkeyes to turn the ball over on downs with just over a minute left.

Offensively, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht completed 18-of-27 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, connecting with tight end Benjamin Brahmer on a 2-yard score in the second quarter. Running back Abu Sama III added 47 yards on 12 carries, while wide receiver Brett Eskildsen had 39 yards on two receptions. The Cyclones managed just 238 total yards but controlled tempo and field position throughout the second half.

Iowa’s offense struggled to find rhythm, with Gronowski finishing 13-of-24 for 83 yards and an interception. He added 37 rushing yards and a 2-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. Running back Jaziun Patterson led the Hawkeyes with 60 yards on 11 carries, and Jacob Gill hauled in five catches for 52 yards. Iowa converted just 5-of-14 third downs and failed to score in the fourth quarter.

The win pushes Iowa State to 3–0 on the season and solidifies its early standing as a Big 12 contender. The Cyclones have now won three of the last four meetings in the rivalry and will travel to Arkansas State next Saturday. Iowa, now 1–1, returns home to face UMass in Week 3, with questions lingering about its passing game and offensive consistency.

Saturday’s result continues a trend of tight Cy-Hawk contests, with six of the last seven decided by one score. For Iowa State, the victory was a testament to defensive depth and special teams execution, while Iowa clearly needs to regroup before Big Ten play begins.