Game 8 Preview: Idaho State vs. Southern Utah

Game Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats | Tickets

POCATELLO, Idaho- Idaho State plays its second-straight home game on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2:35 p.m. in Holt Arena vs. Southern Utah. Jerry Miller and Mark Liptak will broadcast the game on KMGI 102.5. Fans can follow the game online with live stats, video and audio at isubengals.com. Fans inside the arena can log onto bengalstats.com to follow live stats.

Series vs. Southern Utah
Idaho State leads the series 9-5-1. This is the first meeting since 2014, when the Bengals won 56-28 in 2014 in Pocatello. ISU lost 19-9 in Cedar City in 2013. These have been the only two meetings between the two schools as members of the Big Sky Conference. Prior to 2013, the last meeting between the two schools was a 38-13 win in Pocatello in 2005.

About Southern Utah
Southern Utah is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play. The SUU offense is averaging 360 yards a game. Malik Brown leads the rushing attack with 652 yards on 109 carries and two touchdowns. Quarterback Patrick Tyler has thrown for 1,309 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Wide receiver Mike Sharp has caught 44 passes for 578 yards and eight touchdowns. Mike Needham leads the defense with 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and three sacks.

Between the Numbers
 

	ISU	SUU
Points Per Game	21.6	25.1
Rushing Yards Per Game	120.7	159.9
Passing Yards Per Game	229.7	200.3
Total Offense	349.9	360.1
Sacks	12-64	15-87
Red Zone Scores	11-12	13-17
Third Down Conversions	39-109	25-98
Fumbles/Lost	10-7	7-4
Opponents Points Per Game	36.4	29.4
Opponents  Total Yards	459	478.8

Bengals in The NCAA and Big Sky Rankings
- Tanner Gueller ranks seventh in the nation in completions per game at 23.71. That mark ranks third in the league.
- Mario Jenkins is 44th in the nation in tackles for loss at 1.3. That mark ranks fourth in the league.
- Mario Jenkins is 21st in the nation in tackles per game at 10. That mark ranks No. 1 in the Big Sky.
- Tanner Gueller's 1,562 passing yards ranks 31st in the country and fifth in the league.
- Sean Cheney ranks 11th in the nation in punting and third in the Big Sky at 43.3 yards a kick.
- KW Williams six receiving touchdowns ranks 20th in the nation and fifth in the Big Sky.
- KW Williams six receptions per game ranks 22nd in the nation and fourth in the Big Sky.

Final Notes from North Dakota Game
- KW Williams eight receptions moved him into sixth place on ISU's career receptions list. He now has 166 and passed Madison Mangum's 160. Ed Bell is currently in fifth place with 172.
- KW Williams now has 23 career touchdowns and sits in fifth place. Brett Fowler is in fourth with 25.
- KW Williams moved into ninth place for career reception yards. He has 2,133 and passed Luke Austin's 2,108.
- Zak Johnson is 93-99 kicking extra points in his career. The school record for most extra points made in a career is 102 by James Ferrell from 1994-97.
- Idaho State is 2-17 at home vs. ranked teams since beating No. 5 Eastern Washington 34-30 in 2005 and Cal Poly in 2014.
- Tanner Gueller tied his career-high for completions with 26. He also had 26 vs. Sacramento State this year. He also tied his career high for passing attempts with 49. He had 49 vs. Montana in 2015.
- Hagen Graves tied his career-high in receptions with seven. He also had seven vs. Eastern Washington last year. He had 57 receiving yards on Saturday.
- Michael Dean's three receptions was a season-high and he had his first career touchdown reception on a 38-yard strike from Gueller.
- Mario Jenkins had a season-high 12 tackles.
- Chance Salutregui had a season-best 10 tackles.
- JonRhyeem Peoples had a career-best seven tackles while Anthony Ricks tied his career-high in tackles with six. Brandon Monroe tied his season-high in tackles with four.

Kicks Teams Ranked Nationally
The kick teams for Idaho State has made great improvements in 2016.
Take a look a where they rank in 2016 compared to 2015.
    NCAA Ranking                Big Sky Ranking
Kickoff Return Defense
2016    10th        16.78            2nd
2015    118th        26.68            11th
Net Punting
2016    21st        38.47            3rd
2015    95th        32.82            13th
Sean Cheney Punting
2016    11th        43.3            3rd
Zak Johnson Punting
2015    76th        38.4            11th

Records Watch
KW Williams
Career Receptions
1- Rodrick Rumble         223    2009-12
2- Eddie Thompson    219    2005-08
3- Sale'  Key        187    2001-04
4- Merril Hoge        182    1983-86
5- Ed Bell            172    1967-69
6- KW Williams        166    2013-

Career Touchdown Receptions
1- Ed Bell            30    1967-69
2- Sale' Key        27    2001-04
3- Akilah Lacey        25    2003-06
4- Brett Fowler        25    2000-03
5- KW Williams        23    2013-

Career Receiving Yards
1    Rodrick Rumble    2,863    2009-12            
2    Ed "The Flea" Bell    2,676    1967-69            
3    Sale' Key        2,635    2001-04            
4    Eddie Thompson    2,400    2005-08            
5    Akilah Lacey    2,366    2003-06            
6    Shawn Beals    2,208    1984-87            
7    Madison Mangum    2,204    2013-15            
8    Brett Fowler    2,179    2000-03            
9    KW Williams    2,133    2013-

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