Oct. 4, 2008
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Pocatello, ID --- Eddie Thompson broke Sale' Key's all-time receptions record, Russel Hill threw for 350 yards, but the story was mostly the same as the Montana State Bobcats bolted to a 21-7 first quarter lead, and then used a good third quarter to put away Idaho State 33-21 at Holt Arena, dropping the Bengal losing streak to nine games.
Down 21-14 at the break, the Bengals had five drives to attempt to tie the game, but the Bengals misfired several times. After a long second quarter punt return by Kenyon Blue of 31 yards into Montana State territory, the Bengals moved to the 29-yard line before a fumbled snap by Hill was grabbed by Buck Buchanan candidate Bobby Daly.
Montana State then got off a 70-yard punt by Eric Fisher as Blue bypassed a fair catch, allowing the ball to land at the ISU 25 before it rolled dead at the 3-yard line, meaning ISU's subsequent 54-yard march ended with a punt instead of a field goal opportunity. When ISU did finally manage a field goal attempt Jarrett Huk missed it wide right, his third miss in four attempts this season, although all have been from long range.
In the third, the Bobcats finally broke through. After narrowly recovering their own fumbled punt near midfield, the Bobcats drove 62 yards in six plays, with the C.J. Palmer covering the final eight yards to make it 28-14. MSU then scored four plays later when Jesse Anderson burst through the line and blocked a Jon Vanderwielen punt into the end zone, when ISU's Clint Knickrehm alerted knocked the loose ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
ISU never really threatened after that. MSU finished off their scoring in the fourth when Jesse Cunningham drilled a 50-yard field goal to make it 33-14 before ISU responded as Edsel Logan caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Hill with 7:58 left on a 4th-and-8 play. During that drive, Thompson caught his sixth pass of the game to move ahead of Sale' Key's 187 receptions for the most in Idaho State history. Thompson ended the day with seven catches for 77 yards.
After the touchdown, MSU recovered the onside kick, but ISU turned the ball over on downs to basically end the game.
ISU opened the scoring in striking fashion, as the Bengals ran the ball on their first five plays, covering 37 yards after JD Ponciano's opening 56-yard return for a quick 7-0 lead after Ken Cornist rumbled in from seven yards out. However, MSU responded quickly, and repetitively. First, Demetrius Crawford scored on a 12-yard run to tie the game. After an interception of a ball that popped out of Ken Cornist's hands after a hard hit, Cody Kempt threw a 21-yard pass for DeSean Thomas to make it 14-7. After a punt, Kempt then rana quarterback draw for a 13-yard score to make it 21-7 in the opening quarter.
The Bengals answered back in the second when Kenyon Blue took a misdirection screen and scamper over for a 22-yard touchdown pass, making it 21-14, but ISU never could quite tie the game.
The Bengals, who at nine-straight have the nation's third longest losing streak, now travel to Northern Colorado, who entered their night game with UC Davis on Saturday with the nation's four-longest streak at six games. That game will be broadcast on Altitude Sports once again.
NOTES: Hill's 350-yard game is his fourth consecutive with 300 yards, and it was his sixth 300-yard game in the last eight. It's only the second time in ISU history that a quarterback has thrown for 300 yards in four straight, equaling Vern Harris's streak of four straight from October 13 to November 3, 1984 ... the 0-5 start is the worst since the 1997 Bengals started 0-5 on the way to a 3-8 season ... the nine-game skid equals the third-longest in school history ... Ryan Phipps and Michael Wright each led the Bengals with 11 games ... ISU did not have a sack for the second straight game ... Jon Vanderwielen averaged 45.6 yards per punt on five kicks. He entered the game averaging 44.6 yards per punt and leading the Big Sky, ranking fifth nationally ... Idaho State outgained MSU 425 yards to 358 ... Montana State gained 169 yards on their first three drives, and just 189 over their final 12 drives.
