Box Score Photo Gallery
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah- The Idaho State football team opened the 2014 season showing great improvement in the offensive line and running game against the University of Utah from the Pac-12. The Bengals rushed for 179 yards, the second most in a game since 2008 and Xavier Finney rushed for 133 yards on 23 carries. The Bengals lost 56-14.
The Bengals totaled 337 yards. Utah had 589 yards in total offense, 238 yards rushing and 351 passing.
Justin Arias completed 21-40, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Broc Malcolm caught a three-yard reception in the first quarter. KW Williams caught his first career touchdown, on a six-yard reception from Arias in the third quarter.
In his first career start, Mario Jenkins lead Idaho State with eight tackles. Taison Manu and Mitch Beckstead each had seven tackles. Beckstead, also had a fumble recovery in the second quarter.
Utah scored its first touchdown with 10:12 left in first quarter and the Bengals answered in their next possession by going on a 10 play 75-yard drive that resulted in Malcom's touchdown. Idaho State trailed 14-7 at the end of the first quarter and 35-7 at halftime.
The Bengals return to action Sept. 6 when they play at Utah State. The game begins at 6 p.m.
Mike Kramer Quotes
We fractured in the kicking game. I'd say more than a fracture. It was a complete compound fracture in the kicking game. It really gave us no chance. When you give a football team as talented as Utah a chance to make plays in the kicking game they will make you pay for it and the kicking game was where this fell apart. We got the field goal blocked and from there we reverted back to something that is pretty ugly. .
We found spots in the second half that I liked. I liked our character. We were better defensively. We are along ways from where I want us to be. We are pretty good on offense. Our quarterback is pretty good. Our receiving core is ok and they played like a bunch of young guys. They didn't make as many catches as they needed to make against a quality team like Utah.
Our running backs and the offensive front met the challenge after some early mistakes. We rebounded and Don Bailey and our offensive staff did a wonderful job of running their game plan without regard to the score.
Defensively we never really were a factor but if you have seen us play the last three years we were more of a factor tonight than we have been.
The major issue is the kicking game and it evaded us. We fell in the well. Instead of going to get a drink out of the bucket we fell all the way in.
Xavier is really good and he was good last year. He is not a surprise. Our offensive line is way improved and they showed it today. I like where we are at. I like the fact that we get a chance to improve and play against a team of this caliber in 10 days.
Game Notes
- Tonight's game captains were Justin Arias, Jim Bagley, Austin Graves and Keelan McCaffery.
- Xavier Finney's 34-yard run was a career-long
- Broc Malcom's first-quarter touchdown reception was the earliest the Bengals have scored a touchdown against an FBS team since Sept. 6, 2008 at Idaho.
- Aaron Prier's 28-yard reception was a career-best.
- KW Williams scored his first career touchdown.
- Tyler Kuder and Brandon Golden each had a career-high six tackles.
- The Bengals 179 rushing yards was the second most in a game since 2008.
- In his first career start redshirt freshman Marion Jenkins led the team in tackles with eight.
We Are Your Bengals
