Nov. 7, 2009
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- On a day when Idaho State retired Jared Allen's #41 and inducted him into both the ISU Sports Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honor, ISU produced a Hall of Fame performance of their own, but it just wasn't enough. Montana's Brody McKnight fluttered in a 33-yard field goal that deflected off an ISU rusher Michael Wright to allow the undefeated and second-ranked Montana Grizzlies to escape Holt Arena with a 12-10 victory in a game that nearly went down as perhaps the greatest upset in FCS history.
The Bengals, who have won just once in their last 26 games, that being a 36-33 overtime win over Sacramento State in last season's final game, went toe-to-toe with the nation's number two ranked team, and the depleted Bengals nearly pulled it off. The Bengals, trailing 9-3 entering the fourth quarter, got an interception from Keith McGowan, giving ISU the ball at midfield. The Bengals then drove 56 yards, with Kelvin Krosch catching a 21-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 9-9 with 10:29 left. Jarrett Huk's extra point gave ISU the lead at 10-9, ISU's first second half lead of the season.
ISU's defense then got a stop after Montana had put together a solid drive, as Andrew Selle fumbled deep in ISU territory after he was hit by Sean Rutten, and Chris Holmesly recovered. The Bengals and Griz then traded punts, and ISU got the ball back at their own 20 with 3:50 to go. ISU picked up one first down, but on a third-and-six, needing a first down to ice the game, the Bengals were whistled for a false start, and Clint Knickrehm then ran for four yards, giving him his first 100-yard game of his career, but also meaning ISU had to punt.
Jon Vanderwielen's punt went out of bounds at the Montana 17, and from there the Griz put together one final drive to save their undefeated season, starting with 1:25 left. After an incompletion, Andrew Selle hit Chase Reynolds for 13 yards and a first down, and then found Marc Mariani at the Montana 46 for a first down.
Mariani, who caught eight passes for 192 yards, went out for one play after getting shaken up on the tackle, and then caught a beautiful seam route pass for 39 yards to the ISU 15. Reynolds, who rushed for 123 yards, then rushed to the ISU 1-yard line and Montana hurried to the line and tried for the touchdown, but Reynolds was stopped short. After a spike with :09 left, Montana threw an apparent touchdown pass for Dan Beaudin with four seconds left, but Beaudin was called for pushing off and the 15-yard penalty pushed the Griz back to the ISU 16.
After two timeouts by ISU, McKnight's 33-yard field goal was partially blocked by Michael Wright who had earlier blocked an extra point, but the ball had just enough to get over the crossbar and give Montana the win.
Both teams traded short field goals in the first quarter, and Montana took a 9-3 lead after taking over at their own 29 when ISU couldn't convert a fourth-and-one. Montana drove 71 yards, aided in part by a pass interference call in the end zone by Keith McGowan, and two players later Thomas Brooks-Fletcher edged over from a yard out.
The game was rough on the depleted Bengals, who lost two more players to injury. Nic Edgson suffered a probable ACL injury, and freshmen Bryant Ward suffer a grotesque compound fracture of his left leg when he was tackled low by Brandon Dodson late in the second quarter.
Dave Coulson of the Sports Network stated this past week that a Bengal win would be the greatest upset in the history of the FCS, and it was close to coming to fruition as ISU played spectacular, forcing three turnovers while committing just one themselves. Clint Knickrehm led the ISU ground game with 102 yards, and Jaron Taylor led the squad with six catches and Kelvin Krosch had 58 yards. Russel Hill was efficient at 23-of-36 for 198 yards with a touchdown and an interception. For Montana, Reylonds had 123 yards rushing and Selle was 19-of-29 for 321 yards with an interception, as Montana passed for 335. Mariani had 192 yards receiving and 231 all-purpose.
The 12 points allowed was the fewest allowed to a Division I opponent since October 26, 2002 when the Bengals shut out Weber State 34-0. Jared Allen was the star that day and he was the star again as he joined Case deBruijn (3), Mike Machurek (19), Merril Hoge (33), and Ed "The Flea" Bell (42) as the only players to have their numbers retired by ISU. Jared, aong with being inducted in the ISU Sports Hall of Fame, also became the 17th individual to be enshrined in the ISU Ring of Honor, and the first since January 30, 1999.
Idaho State will host Portland State next week in the season finale at Holt Arena at 3:35 pm which will be senior day. As part of ISU's fan appreciation, all children ages 12 and under will get in free to the game.
NOTES: Jaron Taylor became the seventh Bengal to ever record 2,000 yards receiving with his first quarter catch ... ISU's average starting field position was their own 19-yard line ... ISU was outgained 492 to 309 ... Jon Vanderwielen averaged 46.0 yards per punt, and had three pins inside the 20 ... Rustin Phillips was credited with ISU's only sack, and he picked up his fourth forced fumble of the season.
