December 26, 2024

No. 12 Iowa State beats No. 25 Oregon 34-17 in Fiesta Bowl

Iowa State #IowaState

Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) is hit by Oregon cornerback DJ James during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) © Provided by Associated Press Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) is hit by Oregon cornerback DJ James during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Breece Hall ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns, Brock Purdy accounted for two scores and No. 12 Iowa State grinded out a 34-17 victory over No. 25 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday.

The Cyclones (9-3, CFP 10) used their ball-control offense to dominate the time of possession and keep Oregon’s offense off the field for long stretches to win their first New Year’s Six bowl.

Hall, an AP All-American, had 34 carries and his ninth 100-yard game this season. Purdy, who went to high school in nearby Gilbert, threw for 156 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-29 passing, adding a touchdown on the ground.

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) throws against Iowa State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) © Provided by Associated Press Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) throws against Iowa State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Iowa State had a time of possession advantage of more than 25 minutes.

Oregon (4-3, CFP 25) alternated between Tyler Shough and Anthony Brown at quarterback, but couldn’t sustain anything on offense and was plagued by numerous mistakes.

Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) can't hold onto the ball in the end zone during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) © Provided by Associated Press Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) can’t hold onto the ball in the end zone during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Ducks lost two fumbles, an interception and a pooch kick. They also turned it over when a punt hit a blocker’s helmet and had a touchdown wiped out by a penalty.

The Cyclones had been building toward this moment.

Iowa State won three games its first season under Matt Campbell before playing in three straight bowl games. The Cyclones earned their first New Year’s Six bowl with the best regular season in school history.

Iowa State took a methodical offensive approach in the Fiesta Bowl, scoring its first two touchdowns on drives of 14 and 15 plays. Hall scored for the 12th straight game on a 1-yard run and Charlie Kolar caught a 14-yard TD pass from Purdy.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) scores a touchdown as Oregon safety Nick Pickett defends during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) © Provided by Associated Press Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) scores a touchdown as Oregon safety Nick Pickett defends during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Cyclones were stuffed on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the second quarter, but went right back to marching on Oregon’s defense.

Purdy scored on a 1-yard run and Hall made it 28-14 with a 1-yard run after Iowa State recovered a pooch kick.

The Cyclones bogged down in the second half, settling for two field goals by Connor Assalley, but their defense shut down Oregon.

The Ducks were a replacement in the Pac-12 championship game after Washington pulled out and beat Southern California for their second straight title.

Oregon had some early offensive success against the Cyclones, scoring on touchdown runs of 6 and 16 yards by Brown. The Ducks had a 27-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Mycah Pittman wiped out by a holding penalty, settling for a field goal instead.

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal looks at the clock during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) © Provided by Associated Press Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal looks at the clock during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Shough returned for several plays in the second half, but he nor Brown could get much going. Oregon had 88 yards of offense in the second half and Shough’s pass was intercepted by Mike Rose late in the fourth quarter.

Iowa State and Oregon compete during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) © Provided by Associated Press Iowa State and Oregon compete during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

THE TAKEAWAY

Oregon labored offensively at times and was hurt by costly mistakes to end a strange season with a loss.

Iowa State used its ball-control offense to cap the best season in program history.

UP NEXT

Oregon has one of the youngest teams in the country this season and should get nearly everyone back next year.

Hall is a sophomore and will be back and Purdy is a junior, so he still has a year of eligibility left. Iowa State will have to replace several key players on defense, but Rose is just a junior.

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