Rocco Becht, Iowa State deal with North Dakota in season opener

Rocco Becht passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score to lead Iowa State to a 21-3 victory over North Dakota in the season opener for both teams on Saturday at Ames, Iowa.

Jaylin Noel caught eight passes for 135 yards and one touchdown and Jayden Higgins had five catches for 75 yards and a scoring reception for the Cyclones. Becht completed 20 of 26 passes.

Simon Romfo was 17-of-30 passing for 121 yards and one interception for North Dakota, which is ranked 22nd in the FCS Coaches Poll. Bo Belquist caught six passes for 43 yards to raise his career total to 212 receptions, four shy of the school mark held by Greg Hardin (2010-13).

The Cyclones outgained the Fighting Hawks 353 to 295, but North Dakota State possessed the ball (37:51) for nearly 16 minutes longer.

Iowa State moved 75 yards on two plays at the outset of the game to grab the early lead. Becht hit Noel for 54 yards on the first play and followed up with a 21-yard scoring pass to Higgins.

North Dakota threatened to tie the score with a 23-play, 88-yard drive that took 12 minutes, 24 seconds. But the possession that started with 24 seconds left in the first quarter eventually stalled at the Iowa State 9-yard line and C.J. Elrichs kicked a 26-yard field goal with three minutes left in the first half.

The Cyclones responded with a much quicker drive and Noel caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Becht with 48 seconds left in the half.

North Dakota possessed the ball for 22:29 of the half but trailed 14-3 at intermission.

Iowa State added to its lead when Becht scored on a 2-yard keeper with 12:33 left in the contest.

The Fighting Hawks reached the Cyclones’ 11 in the middle of the fourth quarter but came up empty when Elrichs missed a 33-yard field goal with 7:04 left.

–Field Level Media