A late TD from No. 18 Iowa State proved to be the game-winner over No. 13 Miami in an exhilarating Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday.
This one-yard TD run from Iowa State QB Rocco Becht capped off a 15-play, 84-yard drive and gave the Cyclones the 42-41 lead with 56 seconds remaining.
Becht was unbelievable for Iowa State, finishing 22 of his 36 go makes an attempt for 270 yards and three TDs.
At one level within the first half, the groups mixed to attain a TD on eight consecutive drives.
The 2 groups mixed for 939 yards. Though Iowa State received the sport, Miami outgained the Cyclones, 524-415, and had 308 yards on the bottom.
Miami QB Cam Ward handed for 190 yards and three TDs within the first half, setting the file for essentially the most TD passes in Division I historical past with 156. His second and third TD passes gave him 158 in his profession.
This four-yard TD throw to Jacolby George gave Ward the passing TDs file and tied the sport at 14 with 4:12 left within the first quarter.
After the sensational first-half efficiency, Ward, projected to be one of many prime picks within the 2025 NFL Draft, selected to take a seat out all the second half. Whereas some might query his resolution to take a seat out after taking part in within the first half, he did a minimum of showcase what he may do one ultimate time and put his workforce able to win the sport.
That call didn’t assist the Hurricanes within the second half. Nonetheless, Ward capped off a exceptional season with a file within the course of.
Whereas backup QB Emory Williams was solely 5-for-14 for 26 yards with one interception, RB Damien Martinez saved the Hurricanes within the sport with 14 carries for 179 yards and a TD.
Iowa State might have fallen quick within the Massive 12 title sport in a blowout loss to then-No. 15 Arizona State, 45-19. Nonetheless, the Cyclones had by no means produced a 10-win season in program historical past. With the victory over Miami within the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Iowa State completed the 2024 season with an 11-3 file.
Apart from Ward sitting out the second half, you might not ask for way more from the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It had 11 mixed TDs, almost 1,000 whole yards, a late game-winner, and, in fact, the edible mascot.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl merely had all of it.
