Sept. 26, 2004
Final Stats
Final Stats
Cheney, WA --- Eastern Washington scored on their first four possessions, and that was all they needed as they handed Idaho State a 47-22 defeat in the conference opener for both teams. The loss was the ninth consecutive Big Sky opening loss for the Bengals, who dropped to 1-3 on the season.
Idaho State's last season opening conference win was in 1995, when they beat Idaho 26-21. The last time Idaho State opened the conference season on the road and won was in 1981, when ISU beat Boise State in Boise 21-10 to go to 1-0 on the season. The loss also ended a two-game winning streak against Eastern Washington.
Eastern's running back Darius Washington scored three times in the first 15:21, including runs of six, four, and 65 yards. Idaho State could only answer with a 19-yard catch by Sale' Key from Mark Hetherington at the 9:48 mark. That score didn't give ISU the lead however, as both teams missed their opening extra points.
After Washington's 65-yard scamper, the Bengals held Eastern in check for the remainder of the half, but they couldn't convert that into points of their own, other than a 35-yard Johnson field goal. Washington ended the night with 228 yards rushing on 33 carries, and four touchdowns.
Idaho State failed on their opening two drives of the second half before Eastern Washington answered with a two-yard touchdown pass from Erik Meyer to Matt Maiwald. It was Meyer's second touchdown pass of the game, and effectively put the game out of reach. Eastern and Idaho State both tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Idaho State, who has finished with winning Big Sky records each of the last two years despite the opening game loss, will host Montana State next Saturday afternoon at Holt Arena at 3:05 pm. That game will be broadcast on Altitude Sports (Channel 410 on Dish Network)
NOTES: Freshman Brock Drake played in his first game of his career. He opened the game on the kickoff cover team. Drake was playing in place of Atelea Raass, who missed the game with an injury ... Idaho State has now allowed 112 first half points ... Sale' Key extended his receptions streak to 31 straight games. He caught eight passes for 97 yards, giving him 2,039 yards, the fourth Bengal to break the 2,000-career yard mark ... Mark Hetherington rushed for positive yardage for the first time in his career, gaining eight yards ... ISU did not allow a sack ... the Bengals allowed 331 yards rushing, the most since Weber State rushed for 306 last October in a 38-21 Wildcat victory.
