Oct. 10, 2009
Final Stats
Sacramento, CA --- It all started so well for Idaho State. In span of two drives in the second quarter, it all went horribly wrong. The Bengals had a 10-7 lead after one quarter and a stellar performance from quarterback Russel Hill, but back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns, including an 83-yarder by Marquese Smith with 12 seconds left in the half spelled doom as Sacramento State extended ISU's losing streak on the road to 19 games with a 38-17 loss at Hornet Stadium.
The Bengals started Russel Hill for the first time this season, and he looked brilliant at the start, slicing through the Hornet defense in the first half, completing all 10 of his passes for 93 yards, including a touchdown to Andrew Benavides, his first career score. After the teams traded field goals, the first quarter ended tied at 10.
However, the second quarter was a different beast, and it has been all year, as the Hornets scored 21 points. The first touchdown came with 7:50 left in the quarter when Brandyn Reed caught a perfect fade pass from Jason Smith to make it 17-10. Then disaster struck twice. First Durrell Oliver jumped a sideline pass from Hill and took it 37 yards to the house with 6:56 left to make it 24-10, and then on the next drive with just 12 seconds left, Smith took a deflected pass 83 yards.
The Hornets eventually went up 38-10 before ISU got back on the board when Skylar Morgan scored ISU's first rushing touchdown of the season from a yard out with 2:58 left in the third quarter, and it seemed like ISU had chance after chance to get back in it, but they never could quite climb back in. ISU failed on an onside kick attempt after the Morgan touchdown, but got the ball back on a fumble on the next play anyways, but on fourth-and-eight, they could only get six. After a stop, Benavides returned a punt inside the 10, but two penalties on the play moved the ball back into ISU territory, and Hill eventually threw his third interception inside the 20.
The Bengals got it back again inside the 15 on a fumble, but couldn't move it, and on fourth down Hill overthrew Kelvin Krosch in the end zone, giving the ball back to the Hornets. The Bengals had their opportunities, but being down 28 meant taking chances on fourth down, and ISU was 0-for-2, although they had two others converted on penalties.
For Idaho State, Hill was 30-for-52 for 258 yards and a touchdown, along with the three interceptions. Clint Knickrehm led the rushing attack with a season-best 77 yards, as ISU gained 110 on the ground. ISU outgained the Hornets 368 to 335, and dominated time of possession 37:25 to 22:35, but the two pick-sixes hurt more than any stats could counter.
Also for the Bengals, JD Ponciano, who didn't practice all week, had 206 all-purpose yards, and Andrew Benavides added 101.
Notes: George Ortiz started for Keith McGowan at corner, his first career start, along with true freshman Andrew Benavides on offense at receiver ... both of ISU's touchdowns went to true freshmen ... Jon Vanderwielen averaged just 32.5 yards per punt ... ISU scored on three of four red zone chances, including two touchdowns after having gone just 2-for-7 with one TD on the season beforehand.
