Game 1 Preview: Idaho State vs. Black Hills State

Game Notes | Live stats | Live video | Live Audio | Tickets

POCATELLO, Idaho- No. 22/24 Idaho State opens the 2015 season on Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. vs. Black Hills State in Holt Arena. The game will be broadcast on 101.1 and 92.7 FM and 1260 and 690 AM. Jerry Miller and Mark Liptak will call the action with the pregame show beginning at 3 p.m. Fans can also log onto isubengals.com to follow the contest with live video, audio and stats. Idaho State opens the 2015 season ranked No. 22 in the FCS STATS poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.

About Black Hills State
Black Hills State is a Division II school that plays in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They were picked ninth in its preseason conference poll that was voted on by the coaches. Black Hills State finished 3-8 last year. One of the losses was a 57-10 loss at Montana State.

Idaho State vs. Black Hills State
This is the second meeting between the two schools. Idaho State beat Black Hills State 38-5 in Holt Arena on Sept. 8, 2012.

Bengals in Home Openers
Idaho State is 5-0 in its last five home openers and this is the ninth time since 2000 where the Bengals have opened the season at home.

Bengals vs. Non Division I Programs
Since 1999, Idaho State is 17-1 vs. non-Division I programs. It's only loss was 33-22 to No. 5 Central Washington in 2009.

Returning Firepower
The Bengals tallied 6,744 total yards in 2014 and players that accounted for 5,798 of those yards are returning in 2015. The rushing attack of Xavier Finney (1495), Jakori Ford (260) and Nikko Hayes, who has since moved to defense, (12) return to lead the running game. At wide receiver, Madison Mangum (1,234), KW Williams (922), Josh Cook (524), Broc Malcom (428), Xavier Finney (119), Hagen Graves (360), Tyler Graves (246), Tyler Wright (142) and CJ Hatchett (56) return to lead the Bengal receiving core.

Experienced Receivers
The returning group of wide receivers (KW Williams, Hagen Graves, Broc Malcom, Madison Mangum and CJ Hatchett) have combined to catch 275 passes for 3,694 yards and 36 touchdowns since coming to ISU. Once the numbers from Josh Cook, Tyler Wright, Tyler Graves and Xavier Finney are added in, the returning skill players have caught 469 passes for 5,614 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Returning Tacklers
Five of Idaho State's top returning tacklers from the 2014 season return in 2015. Mario Jenkins led ISU in tackles last year with 120 and Taison Manu was third on the team in tackles with 110. Cody Sorensen finished fourth on the team in 2014 with 95 while Tyler Kuder was sixth (56) and Hayden Stout seventh (50). Jenkins and Manu are unavailable for the 2015 season due to injury.

Sanders Named Starting Quarterback
Michael Sanders has been named the starting quarterback for the 2015 season. He will be backed up by Tanner Gueller. Sander's is a junior from Scottsdale Community College while Gueller is a redshirt freshman.