Oct. 31, 2009
Final Stats
Bozeman, MT --- Idaho State couldn't sustain a solid first quarter for the second straight week, and Montana State's Mark Iddins came off the bench to lead MSU back and keep their playoff hopes alive with a 41-10 win over Idaho State.
The Bengals once again got out to a good start, as Russel Hill led the Bengals on an opening drive for a touchdown, taking ISU 82 yards in 15 plays, chewing up 7:35 of the clock. The drive ended when Roderick Rumble snared a 16-yard touchdown for his first career score.
However, Montana State would answer with a Jason Cummingham 34-yard field goal near the end of the first quarter. Jarrett Huk added a 46-yarder into a stiff breeze to make it 10-3 with 10:15 left in the second quarter, which came after A.J. Storms recovered a Bobcat fumble. On the next MSU drive, Phillip Arias picked off Cody Kempt in the end zone. ISU would eventually punt, and MSU head coach Rob Ash replaced Kempt with back-up Mark Iddins, and Iddins delivered, leading MSU on a 67-yard drive, capped by a CJ Palmer 2-yard run.
Then with just 2:53 left in the half, Clint Knickrehm ran around left end, but fumbled the ball, and Darius Jones scooped it up and scored from 32 yards out for a 17-10 Bobcat lead. MSU added a field goal just before half after Russel Hill was picked off by Kevin Retoriano.
In the second half, Iddins led another scoring drive of 77 yards as Aaron Mason, returning from missing the past two games with an injury, scored from 10 yards out. The Bobcats would clinch it in the fourth when Mason scored his scored his second rushing touched, this from six yards out to make it 34-10 with 8:55 left. Blayde Beckstead added another score with 3:26 left to make it 41-10. Iddins ended up 15-of-26 for 169 yards.
The Bengals pulled Hill with about four minutes left in the third quarter, after he went just 14-for-32 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mozzochi finished 2-of-7 for 7 yards. Idaho State, who entered the game last in the Big Sky in rushing, struggled on the ground against the top ranked rushing defensive in the league, gaining just xx yards on xx carries.
The Bengals now will host the #2 Montana Grizzlies on Saturday at Holt Arena at 3:35 pm. The Bengals will officially induct Jared Allen into the ISU Sports Hall of Fame at halftime of the game. Allen's Vikings, who play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, have a bye week next week.
NOTES: Jaron Taylor moved into sixth place on the ISU career receptions list with 145 yards ... Jon Vanderwielen had punts of 73 and 71 yards, becoming the second Bengal to have two 70-yard punts in the same game, and the first to have three 70-yarders in the same season, and he averaged 49.7 for the game ... the Bengals were outgained 488 to 144, and 236 to 17 on the ground.
