Iowa State runs over Texas Tech 52-38
AMES, Iowa -- Austen Arnaud threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Jeremy Reeves capped a wild game by returning an onside kick 42 yards for a touchdown, leading Iowa State to a 52-38 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday night.
Iowa State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) built a 24-0 lead in the first half, saw the Red Raiders (2-2, 0-2) rally to tie it, then capitalized on a fumble recovery to regain the lead in the fourth quarter when the teams combined for 42 points.
Advertisement
Taylor Potts threw five touchdown passes for Texas Tech, the last a 26-yarder to Lyle Leong to draw the Red Raiders within 45-38 with 2:05 left. The Red Raiders then tried an onside kick, but Reeves grabbed the ball and ran it back for a touchdown to finally put it out of reach
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads got the victory over his former boss, Tommy Tuberville of Texas Tech.
Rhoads was the defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2008 when Tuberville was the Tigers' head coach.
With the score 24-24 late in the third quarter, Tech's Detron Lewis fumbled and ISU's Jake Knott recovered at the Red Raiders' 39.
Five plays later, 6-foot-5 tight end Collin Franklin leaped in the back of the zone to grab a 27-yard pass from Arnaud for the go-ahead score. After the Red Raiders went three-and-out, freshman Shontrelle Johnson sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown and a 38-24 lead, which proved to be just enough for Iowa State to hold on.
The 52 points were the most by Iowa State in a Big 12 game and Reeves' kickoff return was the first for a score by an ISU player since Troy Davis took one back on Nov. 19, 1994 at Colorado.
The Cyclones needed the high-scoring night because after a slow start, Potts had the Red Raiders motoring up and down the field the way Tech teams have become accustomed to moving.
Potts completed 42 of 62 passes for 377 yards and one interception. Three of his touchdown passes went to Leong, who had nine catches for 125 yards.
Arnaud, who had only two touchdown passes entering the game, went 20-for-28 for 190 yards and was not intercepted.
Teammate Alexander Robinson set up a touchdown with a 65-yard run and finished with 103 yards in 12 carries. Johnson, a freshman, carried 12 times for 102 yards. It was the first time Iowa State had two 100-yard rushers in a game since the 2004 Independence Bowl.
After Tech drew to 38-31 on Potts' 10-yard TD pass to Eric Stephens, Arnaud took Iowa State on a 6-minute drive that he finished with a 4-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Kurt Hammerschmidt. Potts took Tech right back down the field for his final touchdown pass to Leong before Reeves returned the onside kick for a TD.
Arnaud threw touchdown passes of 36 yards to Darius Reynolds and 14 yards to Josh Lenz. Tech got back in it with touchdowns 36 seconds apart at the end of the first half, then tied it in the third quarter on Matt Williams' 24-yard field goal and Potts' 21-yard TD pass to Leong.