Iowa State won their ACR DIAA semifinal this past weekend, defeating San Houston State to make the final in Denver on May 6.
Both teams had won their quarterfinals in nailbiters, with SHSU beating Texas State and Iowa State holding off Minnesota.
All of that set up the semifinal in Houston. On a steamy Texas day, the Cyclones started quickly by putting Sam Houston State under pressure. That pressure led to a turnover and senior flanker Justin Campbell went over the line. Nick Gill was good on the conversion to make it 7-0 Cyclones less than 5 minutes into the match.
On the ensuing restart the Cyclones worked through the phases until senior captain Wes Cummings was hit from the side of a ruck, opening up a wound in his scalp. While Cummings was being tended to on the sideline, Sam Houston pressed after an errant pass and eventually the ball was kicked dead to prevent Sam Houston State from getting an opportunistic try. A 5 meter lineout gave a platform for the BearKats to attack, but the Cyclones held firm and were eventually able to clear their lines. It was then that Cummings was able to retake the field with a bandaged head and protective headgear.
ISU moved forward, and eventually scrumhalf Aiden Lewis picked and found Tyler Cahill on the wing for a try and a 12-0 Cyclones lead.
Sam Houston State’s speed kept Iowa State’s defense on their toes as the teams traded body blows in the midfield and desperation tackles on the perimeter before flanker Noah Miller was able to find the goalline to make it 17-0 Cyclones.
The teams immediately went back into their patterns in the middle of the field. But then Cummings was able to charge down a clearance kick and find center Drew Guinn to take it the distance. Gill slotted the conversion making it 24-0 with less than five minutes left in the first half. ISU kept it going and after a lineout mistake by SHSU, No.8 Sam Miller swooped in to score and it was 29-0.
The Cyclones were then put under pressure with less than a minute left in the half when Bearkats captain Jaxon Stokley was able to find paydirt to make it 29-5 at halftime.
