Sept. 4, 2010
Final Stats
Media Book: Idaho State 32 - Montana Western 3 
POCATELLO, Idaho - Redshirt freshman quarterback Kyle Morris passed for 189 yards and three touchdowns while transfer running backs Corey White and Jahmel Rover teamed up for 234 rushing yards as Idaho State won its 2010 season opener 32-3 over Montana Western at home in Holt Arena Saturday evening.
The victory marked the first time ISU held an opponent without a touchdown since the last time the Bengals played the Bulldogs, a 37-0 win in 2005 at home. Montana Western gained only 141 yards, minus-three on 21 rushes. ISU rushed for 269 yards and passed for 189 for a total of 458 yards in 34:45 of possession.
"I told the team to enjoy the victories, they come hard," said Idaho State Head Coach John Zamberlin. "I take my hat off to Montana Western, they played hard, but I'm also proud of my guys. Any time you hold somebody under 200 yards, that's good defense."
Morris, from Ukiah, Calif., completed 17-of-26 passes, one interception, for 189 yards. He opened the game's scoring by hitting sophomore wide receiver Rodrick Rumble with a short toss that Rumble converted into a 49-yard touchdown. It was the game's first play from scrimmage and followed a 44-yard kickoff return by transfer all-purpose back Tavoy Moore.
"We have a lot of speed on the outside and a line that can open holes," Morris said. "We have a lot of things to improve on, things we need to clean up."
Moore totaled 203 yards of all purpose running, 32 on three rushes, 40 on three pass receptions, 78 on two kickoff returns, and 53 on two punt returns. Several times, he was tripped up by the last defender.
"I have to trust my speed and just run," he said.
A 41-yard field goal by Mackenzie Crossley with 4:22 left in the first quarter closed the margin to 7-3, but was the visitors' only mark on the scoreboard for the contest.
ISU scored a safety early in the second quarter when, following a 47-yard punt by David Harrington that pinned the Bulldogs deep, a bad Montana Western punt snap went out of the end zone.
The Bengals closed first-half scoring when a 34-yard punt return by Moore provided good field position and three plays later White gained 45 of his 126 yards en route to the end zone.
"I wish I could have done more," White said. "I always strive to be a little better."
ISU scored on its first two second-half possessions when Morris capped a 67-yard drive with a five-yard TD toss to sophomore tight end Josh Hill, then freshman kicker Brendan Garcia toed a 50-yard field goal.
ISU ended the game's scoring with 10:10 left in the game on a 17-yard Morris-Moore connection. Moore's jersey number, 10, flashed on the scoreboard as if he called out this success to the stands.
ISU had a team defensive effort. No one had more than transfer cornerback Kenny Viser's seven stops, but junior defensive tackle Jordan Monga's six tackles included three for loss, senior defensive tackle Chris O'Donnel had a sack, and cornerback Kelvin Miller recorded a pick.
Returning first-team All-Big Sky linebacker A.J. Storms had five tackles. At halftime Storms became the second player to earn the Jared Allen Defensive Player of the Year Award. He said, when asked the difference between the 2009 and 2010 ISU teams,"Depth. We've got guys I have total confidence if they need to make a play, they'll make a play. For the first game we made some mistakes, but we held them to three points and it's a long time since ISU held an opponent without a touchdown."
Fifty-four games to be exact dating back to 2005. In fact, Idaho State is on a two-game win streak which has not occurred since the 2005 season where ISU overcame Montana Western 37-0 at home then defeated Eastern Washington 34-40 at Holt Arena for Homecoming. ISU's two-game win streak includes its 41-34 home victory over Portland State to end the 2009 season.
--www.isubengals.com--
