Game 9 Preview: Idaho State Hosts No. 22 Montana

Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats | Tickets

POCATELLO, Idaho- After a week off, Idaho State returns to the field to host Montana on November 7 at 2:35 p.m. in Holt Arena. The game will be heard live on 101.1 KEIR and live stats, audio and video can be found by logging onto isubengals.com. Fan inside Holt Arena can listen to the game on 88.1 FM.

About Montana
Montana is 4-4 and 3-2 in Big Sky Conference play. The Griz enter Saturday's game having lost two of their last three games. Montana lost 35-16 at Portland State last week, beat North Dakota 42-16 and lost at home to Weber State 24-21 in overtime. The Montana offense is averaging 25.9 points a game and the defense is holding opponents to 23.5 points a game. Montana averages 423.2 yards a game and allows 371. 6. The ground attack is averaging 133.2 yards a game and the passing attack averages 290. Jamaal Jones is the top receiver as he has caught 44 passes for 748 yards and five touchdowns.

Series vs. Montana
Montana has won nine straight and leads the series 42-13. The Griz are 14-10 vs. the Bengals in Pocatello. Idaho State's last win over Montana was a 43-40 double overtime victory on Oct. 18, 2003. This is the first meeting between the two schools since 2012 and it is the first in Pocatello since 2011.
 
Notes From Sacramento State
- Game captains were Xavier Finney, Tyler Kuder, Christian Diehm and Erik Collins.
- Madison Mangum became the 10th Bengal in ISU history to surpass 2,000 receiving yards. His 83 receiving yards gives him 2,027 for his career, ranking him 10th all-time.  
- Madison Mangum's eight receptions against the Hornets gives him 144, ranking him 10th all-time.
- Trae Pilster saw his first collegiate action at quarterback late in the third quarter. He entered the game with 4:08 remaining in the period. He played the rest of the game. The Bengals have used three quarterbacks this season.

Bengal Bites
- Idaho State is 1-14 at home vs. ranked teams since beating No. 5 Eastern Washington 34-30 in Holt on Sept. 24, 2005.
- The highest ranked team ISU has beaten is No. 5 Montana, 28-23 in 1994, No. 5 Montana in 2003 (43-40 in 2 OT) and No. 5 Eastern Washington 34-30 in 2005.
- Madison Mangum has caught a pass in 20  straight games. His three receptions vs. Portland State was his fewest since the 2013 season.
- CJ Hatchett has caught 12 passes in his career. Four of the 12 have been for touchdowns. He also caught a two-point conversion at UNLV.
- Mario Jenkins and Taison Manu are unavailable for the 2015 season.
- Xavier Finney has 13 100-yard rushing games, tied for the most out of any active Big Sky player.
- Madison Mangum has  eight 100-yard receiving games.

Bengals vs. Ranked Opponents
Idaho State has now defeated two ranked teams in two years. ISU won at home vs. No. 21 Cal Poly last year. Prior to that win, ISU was 0-24 vs. ranked teams. Before the win over Cal Poly, the  last win over a ranked opponent was a 34-30 win over No. 5 Eastern Washington in Pocatello in 2005.

Bengals in the NCAA Stats
Idaho State ranks fifth in the nation in fewest penalties with 36 and eighth in fewest penalties per game at 4.5. The ISU offense ranks 21st in passing at 279 yards a game. Madison Mangum ranks eighth in the country in receiving touchdowns with eight, 18th in receptions per game (6.8), 22nd in receiving yards at 717 and 23rd in receiving yards per game (89.6).