POCATELLO, Idaho- Idaho State (1-9, 0-7) closes out the 2010 season with a contest at No. 3 Eastern Washington (6-1, 8-2). This is Eastern Washington's Senior Day, final home game and it is the highest ranking they have ever had.
Idaho State vs. Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington leads the series 22-9. The Eagles have won four straight over ISU. Idaho State's last win over EWU was a 34-30 victory at Holt Arena on Sept. 24, 2005. That game was also the last time the Bengals defeated a ranked opponent as Eastern Washington was ranked No. 5 in the country.
Previous Meeting vs. Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington defeated Idaho State 38-3 last year at Holt Arena. EWU was ranked No. 17 at the time and led the Bengals 21-3 at halftime and scored 17 third quarter points to put the game away.
The Last Time
The senior class of Keith McGowen, Russel Hill, Chris Holmesly, Dustin Tew, Izzy Ramirez, Kenny Viser, Jeff Tuua, Sean Rutten, Phillip Arias, Jarrid Nash, Mitch Rudder, Chad O'Donnell, Jacob Hutton and Rustin Phillips were all honored before the start of last weeks final home game against Sacramento State.
Big Sky Leaders
As a team ISU is first in kickoff return average at 24 yards a return and first in punt return average at 18.1 yards. Brendon Garcia is one of only two kickers in the Big Sky to make every extra point. Tavoy Moore is first in the league in punt return average at 18.3 and fifth in the conference in kickoff return average at 24.8. A.J. Storms continues to lead the league in tackles at 12.8 while David Harrington leads the Big Sky in punting at 44.87 yards a kick.
It's a First
Tavoy Moore became the first Big Sky football player in conference history to return a kickoff and punt return for touchdowns in two different games. He accomplished this feat at Northern Colorado and Montana.
Bengals in NCAA Stats
A.J. Storms is tied for second in the nation in tackles per game at 12.8. The leader is from Western Illinois with 12.9. Tavoy Moor is second in punt return average at 18.33 while he is fourth in all-purpose yards at 186.40. David Harrington is second in the country in punting at 44.87 while as a team, ISU is seventh in net punting at 37.32 and second in punt return average at 17.65,
Longest Drive
Against Montana State, Idaho State recorded it's longest scoring drive since playing at Weber State on Sept. 19, 2009 (nine play, 84 yard drive). ISU's opening score was a nine-play, 83-yard drive that took 3:40 and resulted in the first touchdown of the game against the Bobcats. Below are ISU's longest scoring drives of the season.
Drive Yards Time of Possession Result Opponent
9 plays 83 yards 3:40 Touchdown Montana State
8 plays 82 yards 2:23 Touchdown Sacramento State
10 plays 80 yards 5:25 Touchdown Montana
10 plays 70 yards 4:06 Field Goal Weber State
12 plays 69 yards 6:24 Touchdown Montana Western
4 plays 66 yards 1:58 Touchdown Sacramento State
5 plays 65 yards 1:48 Touchdown Georgia
Harrington Punting Power
David Harrington continues to lead the Big Sky Conference in punting with an average of 44.87 yards a kick. He received FCS Honorable Mention Performance of the Week for punters for his play against Northern Arizona; his second of the season. After averaging 45.3 yards on four punts against Northern Colorado he averaged 48.6 yards on seven punts against Northern Arizona on Sept. 25. He had previously averaged 45.7 vs. Montana Western and 46.7 at Utah State.
Hill Inching Higher in Record Books
Russel Hill continues to inch his way closer to ISU career history in all three passing categories. Hill is second in school history in pass attempts, pass completions and passing yardage. He is even closer to overtaking current record holder, Jason Whitmer (1987-90). Whitmer owns the pass attempts title with 1,349 while Hill has 1,138. Whitmer has a record 721 pass completions, Hill has 634 and Whitmer has 9,081 passing yards while Hill has 7,343. Hill is also third all-time for ISU in touchdown passes with 43. Whitmer owns the title with 55. Hill needs two touchdown passes to tie Mike Machurek (1980-81) for second place with 45.
Storms Top Tackler
Junior linebacker A.J. Storms continues to lead the team in tackles for the season. He currently has 128 with 54 of the tackles being unassisted. Storms leads the Big Sky in tackles per game with 12.8 and that mark is good for the second best in the nation. The 20 tackles he had at Utah State and Montana puts Storms tied for fourth for most tackles in an FCS game this year.
Sacked
Senior defensive end Sean Rutten recorded four quarterback sacks vs. Northern Colorado, his first sacks since 2008, for losses of 37 yards. The four sacks by Rutten is tied for the second most sacks in a game by an idividual out of all FCS schools. ISU had only eight sacks all last year, but nailed UNC's quarterback six times. Rutten approached the ISU one-game record of 5.5, which the school's all-time sack leader Josh Hays inflicted on Boise State in 1994. As a team, ISU has 11 sacks this year. He also recorded a sack at Georgia, giving him five on the year.
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