Sept. 12, 2004
Pocatello, ID--A swarming Mustang defense and inefficiencies on the offensive side of the ball doomed the Bengals Saturday night as Cal Poly defeated ISU 35-20. The loss ends a 12-game home winning streak at the Holt Arena and drops the Bengals to 0-2 on the young season.
The Bengals hung with the Mustangs for much of the game, but couldn't overcome mistakes on the offense, namely four interceptions, two fumbles and six sacks.
Senior Mark Hetherington, coming off a 300-yard passing game against San Diego State University last week, nearly equaled that total this week, passing for 291 yards and two touchdowns. But the damage was done with a Mustang defense that consistently pressured Hetherington and the Bengals offensive line, forcing rushed plays and three defensive scores for the Mustangs.
Cal Poly struck with their first score on an interception with 6:43 left in the first quarter, a pick that Jordan Beck returned for 40 yards and a touchdown, putting the Broncos up 7-3. A 23-yard pass from Hetherington to Sale' Key with 00:54 left in the first quarter gave the Bengals their last lead of the game.
ISU was able to put up another touchdown in the second quarter, a 25-yard pass to Akilah Lacey. But the Bengals would see Cal Poly score three second-quarter touchdowns, including a 24-yard interception return by Mustang defensive back Joey Warren. The Bengals headed to the locker room at the half with a 28-17 deficit.
ISU came out in the second half ready to chip off the Mustangs lead, and with 4:31 left in the third quarter, came within eight points after a 33-yard field goal by Jaret Johnson.
Despite ISU's strong defensive effort in the second half, holding the Mustangs scoreless on their side of the ball, Cal Poly managed to put up seven more points to finish off the game at 35-20. Hetherington took a sack for a loss of 16 yards on the ISU four-yard line, and, after jarring the ball loose, Gabe Dal Porto of Cal Poly fell on the ball in the end zone for the third defensive score of the game.
"We are looking forward to putting this one behind us," Hetherington said. "Nobody wants to remember this one. It was a debacle."
"It was uncharacteristic of our kids," Coach Larry Lewis said. "I think we're better than that, and we'll respond in the right way."
On a positive note, ISU's duo of wide receivers, Akilah Lacey and Sale' Key totaled 213 yards and two touchdowns between them, with Lacey's 117 yards and eight receptions setting career-highs.
The Bengals will have a chance to get back on a winning track next Saturday against Northern Colorado with kickoff at 12:05 pm in Greeley, Col. in a game being broadcast by Altitude Sports. It will be their last game before starting their Big Sky Conference schedule on Sept. 25 at Eastern Washington.
