Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) hands the ball off to running back Deon Silas (22) during the game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. The Cyclones defeated the Bobcats, 43-10. © Margaret Kispert/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht’s baptism into the Cy-Hawk rivalry with Iowa came while standing on the sideline. Tension tinged every series and every play last season as the Cyclones eked out a 10-7 win over the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium — and Becht, a true freshman at the time, remembers basking in the endorphin-fueled, rain-soaked afterglow.
“It was the first time I’d been in a college stadium where the (road) environment was like that,” said Becht, who is expected to make his second career start when Iowa (1-0) strides into Jack Trice Stadium to face ISU (1-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FOX). “That was a good experience to take away and hopefully it’s like that this year.”
Maybe not exactly “like that,” though.
Iowa State overcame three turnovers and two blocked punts to escape Iowa City with a win last season — but the Cyclones couldn’t fully exhale until Hawkeye kicker Aaron Blom’s 48-yard field goal attempt missed its mark as time expired.
So expect more high-stakes, low-scoring drama on Saturday as ISU seeks back-to-back triumphs in the series for the first time since 2011-12.
“It was great for us a year ago to be able to get (the win) and quite honestly, we didn’t play a very good football game,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “But to be able to win the football game was a positive for last year’s team. We’re so young right now that, it’s like, man, there’s two things: Number one, this game and what comes with it, but the biggest thing is our young football team growing from week one to week two.”
Typically for the Cyclones, the most growth is required from the offense, and that’s particularly true this season because of new starters at quarterback, tailback and several other spots.
Becht went 10-for-13 for 113 yards and two touchdowns in ISU’s 30-9 season-opening win over Northern Iowa. He looked poised and polished while operating efficiently and avoiding mistakes. He still may split time with true freshman and early enrollee J.J. Kohl on Saturday, but he’s made a strong case to at least continue to play the majority of snaps.
“I think Rocco certainly has put himself in a great position to obviously be a starter this coming week and just continue to move himself forward,” Campbell said. “My guess is, just as football goes, we’ll need both of those guys to continue to grow forward if our team wants to have success.”
If Becht’s to fully secure the No. 1 quarterback spot, he must be the consummate game manager — a bland, but exceedingly important duty that the record-setting Brock Purdy ably fulfilled early in his ISU career. Becht doesn’t need to make big plays. He simply needs to execute the right play adroitly — or, as he says, “take the money.”
“Take what they give you,” he said, “and, you know, roll with it.”
Take the win over UNI, for example. The Cyclones ran just 45 plays — their fewest in a game they won since 1961 — but the offense turned those limited opportunities into a solid 5.6 yards per play, three touchdowns and a field goal. That’s efficient production and that’s Becht’s formula for success against the Hawkeyes and beyond.
“He knows what it looks like to lead an offense, to step out there confidently on the field,” ISU offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said. “Those things are invaluable at a position like his.”
