Iowa State vs. Baylor Game Report: Turning point, numbers and notes to know

AMES — A closer look at Baylor’s 31-24 win over Iowa State on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

Turning point

Quarterback Hunter Dekkers connected with wide receiver Dimitri Stanley for a 24-yard touchdown late in the first half that pulled the Cyclones within three points, at 17-14.

But that momentum proved illusory as Dekkers was intercepted at his own 36-yard line on the opening drive of the second half. The defense forced Baylor to fail on a fourth-down conversion, but another three-and-out from ISU’s offense set the stage for the Bears’ 10-play, 93-yard touchdown drive capped by Richard Reece’s 19-yard run to the end zone that restored a two-possession lead.

The Cyclones didn’t inch back within one score until Jace Gilbert’s 28-yard field goal with 55 seconds left made the score 31-24. The onside kick failed and ISU saw an 11-game home winning streak against Big 12 foes snapped.

By the numbers

183 — The number of career receptions for Cyclone receiver Xavier Hutchinson. His eight catches in Saturday’s game propelled him to third all-time at ISU. He’s one reception shy of tying Deshaunte Jones for second place with 184 career grabs.

12 — The number of plays both the Bears and the Cyclones needed to score touchdowns on their respective opening drives. Baylor’s first touchdown drive spanned 77 yards in 6:20. ISU’s covered 75 yards in 5:45.

1,064 — The number of days between the Cyclones’ last conference home loss — a 34-27 setback to Oklahoma State on Oct. 26, 2019 — and Saturday’s setback.

2 — The number of NFL scouts (Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings) confirmed to be in the press box on Saturday.

Notebook

— It took less than two minutes for an ISU player to be ejected for targeting. Safety Beau Freyler — who missed last week’s Ohio game because of an injury — was whistled for that infraction with 13:06 left in the first quarter. Cyclones coach Matt Campbell and the crowd of 58,069 — was incensed. One play later, Campbell and the fans became irate again when Colby Reeder was called for a personal foul for unnecessary roughness. That set Baylor up first-and-10 at the ISU 32-yard line and the Bears converted twice on fourth down while taking a 7-0 lead with 8:40 left in the first quarter.

— Penalties — and the ensuing boos from the crowd — served as an unwelcome theme for the Cyclones’ defense throughout much of Saturday’s game. Infractions for a defensive block below the waist and illegal hands to the face buoyed Baylor’s second touchdown drive and pushed ISU’s penalty totals to four for 48 yards at halftime. ISU committed eight penalties for 78 yards in the game — more than 30 yards before its previous per-game average.

— Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle, who started his career at Iowa, serves as a jack of all trades of sorts for the Bears. He showed that ability on Saturday by catching a 1-yard touchdown pass that gave Baylor a 17-7 lead with 7:09 left in the second quarter. Doyle played in his 44th career game Saturday and has twice been named honorable mention all-Big 12 as a linebacker. He’s also rushed for one career touchdown.

Up next

Iowa State (3-1, 0-1) visits Kansas (4-0, 1-0) next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2 or ESPNU). The Jayhawks beat Duke 35-27 Saturday and have won four games in a season for the first time since going 5-7 in 2009.