Aug. 29, 2002
Box Score
Pocatello, ID---Idaho State used a balanced attack, rushing for 257 yards and passing for 254 as ISU opened the 2002 season on a resounding note with a 48-7 win over NAIA Montana-Western.
The Bengals scored on five of their seven first half possessions, including the first three. Jeremy Hershey booted a 24-yard field to open the scoring, and then Isaac Mitchell barreled over from 5 yards out and Troy Bell scored on a career-long 47-yard run, his only rush of the night.
Things didn't slow down in the second quarter as Hershey belted a 48-yard kick, and after Montana-Western attempted a 39-yard field goal, but Mark Weivoda, who tied an NCAA I-AA record last season with six blocked kicks, notched his eighth career block, setting up a 52-yard drive, capped by Sale' Key's acrobatic touchdown going airborne over a defender, essentially flipping into the end zone.
Western scored their only points with 51 seconds left in the half on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Travis Kirby to Brant Humphrey.
In the second half, Caleb Eastman took over at quarterback for Doug Baughman, and Rory Carrington ended up rushing 19 times for 94 yards. Eastman scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard bootleg, and then another true freshman, Chaz Brewer, picked off a Kirby pass (one of three Bengal second half picks) at the 30 and rambled home for a touchdown.
Eastman closed the scoring with a 24-yard pass to Shedrack Okoebor on a tipped pass.
The Bengals special teams looked solid throughout. Along with Hershey's two field goals, Eddie Johnson averaged 52.3 yards on three punts and he kicked off eight times for eight touchbacks. Hershey also kicked off once for a touchback. Emery Beckles averaged 23.3 yards per punt return.
The Bengals have a bye next week before heading to Logan, Utah to take on Utah State at 7:05 pm on September 14.
