TUCSON, Ariz. — Quarterbacks Jaylen Raynor and Connor Moberly combined for 169 passing yards, but Iowa State struggled to maintain offensive traction on the ground in a 39-3 loss to Arizona on Saturday at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
The Cyclones (3-4, 1-3) were limited to 221 total yards of offense and 14 first downs while being kept out of the end zone throughout the contest. Arizona (6-1, 3-1) controlled the tempo with 477 total yards, led by quarterback Noah Fifita, who completed 27 of 34 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns.
Arizona set an aggressive tone early, taking an 8-0 lead just 31 seconds into the game when Fifita connected with Isaiah Mizell on a 71-yard touchdown pass, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Tyler Powell. The Wildcats expanded their lead to 15-0 later in the opening quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by Quincy Craig. Iowa State answered with its most effective drive of the quarter, marching 53 yards in seven plays. The possession was sparked by a 32-yard completion from Raynor to tight end Vince Benetti down to the Arizona 14-yard line. After Raynor was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Malcolm Hartzog and Dominic Lolesio, Kyle Konrardy got the Cyclones on the board with a 40-yard field goal with 1:06 remaining in the first quarter.
The Cyclones engineered another promising drive early in the second quarter, driving 55 yards in eight plays to reach the Arizona 20-yard line. Raynor jump-started the advance with a 17-yard pass to Omari Hayes and a 27-yard completion to Jamal Polite, advancing the ball to the Wildcats’ 29-yard line. Raynor then connected with Easton Miller for 5 yards to setup third-and-short, but after a 2-yard pass to Ty Claiborne on fourth down fell short of the line to gain, Iowa State turned the ball over on downs at the 20. Arizona capitalized with a 15-play, 80-yard drive capped by Kedrick Reescano’s 5-yard touchdown run. In the final two minutes of the half, Raynor completed passes of 8 yards to Claiborne and 12 yards to Cody Jackson, aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty on Dwight Bootle II. However, Raynor fumbled on a scramble at the Arizona 49-yard line, recovered by Tyrese Boss. Arizona’s Michael Salgado-Medina missed a 31-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the half with Arizona leading 25-3.
Defensive execution dominated the third quarter, which ended completely scoreless. Moberly opened the half under center for Iowa State, completing a 12-yard pass to Hayes and later connecting with Miller for an 18-yard gain to cross midfield. Cornerback Keyon Washington delivered a highlight for the Cyclone defense by forcing a fumble on Arizona’s Caleb Smith, which bounced out of bounds. A 5-yard penalty on Iowa State for running into the kicker on a fake punt extended an Arizona drive, but the Cyclones held firm to force a Chase Ridley punt.
Iowa State opened the final quarter with a 13-play, 36-yard drive highlighted by an 8-yard rush from Aiden Flora and a 6-yard scramble by Moberly. After a punt, the Cyclones regained possession down 32-3 following a 40-yard touchdown pass from Fifita to Henry Gabalis. Moberly ripped off a 12-yard run to the ISU 37 and completed a 5-yard pass to Benetti. However, back-to-back incompletions and a 7-yard sack by Dash Fifita ended the possession on downs at the Iowa State 36-yard line. Arizona backup quarterback Sawyer Anderson concluded the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:55 remaining. Iowa State’s final drive featured a 6-yard rush by Ryver Peppers before Nela Taliauli recorded a 4-yard sack to force a final punt.
Raynor completed 8 of 10 passes for 106 yards, while Moberly went 7 for 17 for 63 yards through the air and added 35 gross rushing yards (20 net). Flora paced the Cyclone rushing attack with 36 yards on 12 carries. Benetti finished as Iowa State’s leading receiver with three catches for 42 yards, while Hayes added two receptions for 29 yards, Polite caught one pass for 27 yards and Miller recorded two catches for 23 yards.
Linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen anchored the Iowa State defense with a game high 15 total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Carson Willich recorded 10 tackles.