Oct. 25, 2008
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- A key three play sequence in the third quarter spelled doom for Idaho State, as Portland State scored 10 points in a 15 second span, blowing open a close game, and then ISU couldn't convert on 4th-and-goal when they needed it, and all of that spelled a 36-13 loss to Portland State, running ISU's losing streak to 12 games dating back to the 2007 season.
Idaho State entered the game with the knowledge that they had defeated Portland State 38-20 left year for the last victory, but the Vikings and their pass-happy offense had other ideas. The news in a way got worse for the Bengals as Columbia defeated Dartmouth, ending their 13-game losing streak, meaning ISU's streak is now the second-longest in the country.
The key sequence in the game occurred late in the third quarter. After a Danny Urrego field goal made it 19-13 with 4:58 left, JD Ponciano muffed the ensuing kickoff, and KJ McCrae recovered. One play later, Hubel hit Raymond Fry on a crossing pass for a 28 yard touchdown, giving PSU 10 points in 15 seconds, and a 26-13 lead.
The Bengals raced right back down the field, but they lost two yards on 3rd-and-2 from the three-yard line, and then on fourth down, Hill scrambled and threw to Jaron Taylor in the end zone. Taylor seemingly had the ball, but his own teammate Isaiah Burel went for the catch as well and ran into him, knocking the ball away.
PSU then drove down the field for a fourth quarter field goal, and then Reggie Jones picked off Hill and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown to make it 36-13, and then no one scored over the remaining 9:22 of the game.
ISU came out strong early, as Clint Knickrehm, who started in place of the injured Ken Cornist, scored from a yard out for a quick 7-0 lead, but the Vikings answered right back, going 66 yards in 10 plays for the first of three Hubel touchdowns.
Idaho State then punted on their second possession, and PSU scored against when Aaron Woods broke a tackle, turning a short gain into a 47-yard touchdown. The score stayed 13-7 when Jimmy Collins fumbled the snap and then threw the ball towards the end zone, where D.J. Clark knocked it away.
The teams then traded field goals, with Mike Ramos hitting from 47 and 34 for Idaho State, and Urrego hitting from 29 and 36, the last of which started the key sequence in the game.
The Bengals moved the ball well at times but just couldn't hit paydirt. Clint Knickrehm rushed for a career-high 72 yards as ISU had 107 on the day, their second best total of the year. Hill struggled at times, and was 25-of-47 with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaron Taylor led the receivers with seven catches and 81 yards, and several of the catches were dazzling.
Defensively, although ISU allowed 535 yards passing, they played fairly stout. D.J. Clark had his best game with a team-high nine tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. ISU allowed just 12 yards rushing to Portland State.
The Bengals now will head to Cal Poly to take on the #3 Mustangs at 7:00 pm Mountain Time in San Luis Obispo.
NOTES: Eddie Thompson played sparingly after injuring his ankle in the third quarter, catching four passes for 27 yards ... Jon Vanderwielen averaged 34.2 yards per punt, the first time this season he averaged less than 41.4 yards per kick in a game ... Idaho State's three interceptions were one more than they had in the first seven games of the season ... Portland State punted just twice ... Indiana State has the nation's longest losing streak at 22 straight games.
