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    • 5 numbers that stood out in Iowa State’s football win against Baylor
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    5 numbers that stood out in Iowa State’s football win against Baylor

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    AMES – A special touchdown for the team, hundreds of yards of offense and an undefeated start through five games.

    There was a lot to like in Saturday’s Iowa State football game against Baylor, with the Cyclones overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Bears 43-21. Iowa State jumped out to a 5-0 start to the season and a 2-0 record in the Big 12 Conference.

    Here are five numbers that tell the story of Iowa State’s victory over Baylor.

    1 … as in one (blocked) kick returned for a touchdown

    Iowa State scored its first touchdown of the game with 6:10 left in the second quarter. Less than two minutes later – one minute and 22 seconds to be exact – the Cyclones scored again.

    Here’s how it happened. Baylor’s snap on the punt went a little low, and the Bears’ punt bobbled the ball. He picked him up and tried to get the kick off, but Myles Mendeszoon rushed in and blocked the kick.

    Right place, right time, as the ball bounced right into Caden Matson’s path as he moved past his blocker. He grabbed the ball and returned it 25 yards to the end zone. Matson’s touchdown gave Iowa State its first lead of the game.

    4 … as the lead changed hands four times

    Baylor started things off with a touchdown. Iowa State added a field goal before the end of the first quarter and then took the lead — despite the Bears going into the end zone again — with two touchdowns and another field goal in the second quarter.

    The Bears responded with a third touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, but it didn’t take long for the Cyclones to be back on top. That’s where Iowa State stayed, adding two more touchdowns: one in the final minute of the third quarter and another early in the fourth.

    Add in a field goal and Iowa State made sure the Bears couldn’t mount a comeback.

    7 … as in the seventh straight game with a Jayden Higgins touchdown

    The streak remains alive.

    Looking back at last season, Higgins scored at least one touchdown in seven straight games. And he shows no signs of slowing down. This touchdown came late in the third, with the Cyclones leading 26-21.

    Three plays after converting 4th-and-2 – on a 22-yard pass to Higgins – Rocco Becht found Higgins on an 11-yard pass for another touchdown. Higgins led all Cyclones receivers with 116 yards (14.5 yards per catch average) and one touchdown. He caught a distance of 25 yards.

    44 … as in 44 years since the last time Iowa State started 5-0

    Iowa State’s undefeated start through five games is historic. The last time the Cyclones were 5-0 was in 1980, and this is only the fifth time ever that Iowa State football started off without a hitch through its first five games.

    Saturday’s win also marked the first time since 2020 that the Cyclones started conference play 2-0.

    500…as in over 500 yards of total offense

    Iowa State finished the game with 542 yards of total offense: 277 passing yards and 265 rushing yards. It was the first time since Nov. 26, 2021, when the Cyclones racked up 541 yards against TCU.

    Becht passed to Jayden Higgins for 116 yards, to Jaylin Noel for 98 yards, to Ben Brahmer for 49 yards and sent a pass of 14 yards to Tyler Moore.

    On the ground, Jaylon Jackson led the way with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Carson Hansen ran for 97 yards, Becht added 28 on three keepers – including a long of 15 – and Abu Sama, Easton Miller and Noel combined for 33 yards.

    Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

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