Nov. 9, 2002
Box Score
Pocatello, ID---Idaho State University's playoff hopes took a huge leap forward as Doug Baughman threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns and the ISU defense held Northern Arizona to just 170 yards of offense as the Bengals rolled 46-20 over the Lumberjacks.
The win, combined with Weber State's huge 20-14 upset of #13 Portland State gives Idaho State sole possession of second place. The win became even bigger as 10 ranked teams lost on Saturday, and several unranked teams picked up their fourth loss of the season.
ISU struck first when Baughman's pass to Sale' Key ricocheted off a defender to a wide-open Brett Fowler for a 27 yard touchdown. Ernie James then blocked a Mark Gould punt out of the end zone for a safety, and on the ensuing drive, Rory Carrington ran it in from 2-yards out to give ISU a 15-0 lead.
Gould atoned for the block with a beautiful punt to the ISU 1-yard line in the second quarter, and NAU forced a Troy Bell fumble, which was picked up by Ian Gunderman for a short 3-yard touchdown. ISU however, put up 10 points in the final minute. Key capped a 79-yard drive with a 17-yard catch, and then Emery Beckles' 51-yard punt return set up a short 24-yard field goal by Jeremy Hershey.
NAU closed to 25-14 on a halfback option pass from Leslie Lee to Johnny Marshall for 17 yards, but Fowler caught his second touchdown pass, and then Beckles iced the game with an 80-yard touchdown on a punt return.
Jeff Davenport turned in a career performance with eight catches for 110 yards. Baughman, who threw for 350, also rushed for 52 yards, the team's top total. The Bengals, who rushed for 113, played without Isaac Mitchell, who missed the game with an ankle injury as a precaution.
Notes: Baughman went over the 2,400-yard mark passing for the season ... Carrington scored two touchdowns, the first two of his career ... Northern Arizona's fourth quarter touchdown was the first given up by ISU this season ... Northern Arizona's 12 punts were one short of the Holt record for an opponent ... Mark Weivoda had a career-high three sacks ... Jared Allen picked up a sack, his eighth of the season, giving him the junior class record ... he also forced a fumble and recovered it on the play ... ISU is now 5-0 at home this season.
