POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State football team held off a late Montana State rally to earn a 24-17 win in front of a crowd of 8,851 at Holt Arena.
The Bengals improved to 5-3 and 4-1 in Big Sky play while Montana State dropped to 4-4 and 2-3 in league.
Montana State capitalized on two fourth quarter turnovers by the Bengals to cut a 24-7 deficit to 24-17 with 8:24 left in the game. Idaho State would punt the ball on its ensuing possession.
The Bobcats drove to the Idaho State 16-yard line but a Bobcat penalty, an
Aren Manu sack and broken up passes by
Joe Martin and Adkin Aguiree preserved the win.
Idaho State had 391 yards of total offense while MSU had 425. Idaho State rushed for 173 yards and
Tanner Gueller passed for 218.
James Madison carried the ball 21 times for 87 yards and one touchdown.
Mitch Gueller caught three passes for 62 yards.
Demonte Horton caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown while
Michael Dean caught four passes for 54 yards.
Austin Campbell had a touchdown reception and 18 yards receiving.
Christian Holland had a career-high 18 tackles and one sack.
Kody Graves had 12 and
Adkin Aguirre had 10 and one interception.
Montana State led 7-0 after the first quarter. The Bengals then scored 17 second quarter points to take a 17-7 lead at halftime.
Campbell Sheidow kicked a 38-yard field goal with 14:13 left in the half and Madison capped a 15 play 94 yard drive that resulted in a seven yard touchdown run with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter. Campbell scored his touchdown on a nine-yard reception with 2:46 remaining in the half.
Horton tallied his touchdown in the third quarter on a four-yard reception to give ISU a 24-7 lead with 11:16 to play in the third quarter.
Idaho State returns to the road for two games. On Nov. 3 the Bengals play an 8 p.m. mountain time contest at Portland State. ISU then plays at Cal Poly on Nov. 10 before returning to Holt Arena to host Weber State on Nov. 17.
Notes
- Idaho State snapped an 11-game Montana State win streak. Idaho State's last win over the Bobcats was 23-17 in Bozeman in 2003.
- Idaho State continued its solid second quarter play by outscoring MSU 17-0 in the quarter. Idaho State has now outscored its opponents in the second quarter 136-65.
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Christian Holland had a career-high 18 tackles.
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Adkin Aguirre had his seventh career interception. He is three away from moving into 10
th place for most interceptions in a career.
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Christian McFarland's nine tackles tied his season-high.
- Five Tackles by
Kainoa Fuiava tied his season-high.
- 10 tackles by
Adkin Aguirre tied his season-high. He also had 10 at Liberty.
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Demonte Horton's four receptions tied his season-high. He scored his second-career touchdown.
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Tanner Gueller moved into fourth place for most completions. He now has 654, passing
Kevin Yosts, 649.
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Tanner Gueller now has 8,250 passing yards. Jason Whitmer holds the record with 9,081.
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Tanner Gueller has thrown 67 career touchdown passes to add to his school record.
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James Madison moved into a tie for eighth place for most career rushing touchdowns. He has 17, tied with
Ty Flanagan and Billy Shaw (1963-64).
- The crowd of 8,851 was the ninth largest crowd to watch a game in Holt Arena since 2005.
- Idaho State has guaranteed itself a winning record in conference for only the fifth since 2000. Idaho State was 6-2 in league in 2014, 4-3 in 2003, 5-2 in 2002 and 4-4 in 2000.
- The 94 yard scoring drive in the second quarter was the longest drive of the season for the Bengals.
