CEDAR CITY, Utah- Kevin Ryan kicked a 30 yard field goal with five seconds left to lift Idaho State to a 26-24 victory over Southern Utah on Saturday afternoon at Eccles Coliseum.
The Bengals trailed 24-23 with 3:38 left in the game. ISU then went on a 13 play, 60 yard drive that took 3:29 off the clock to set up the winning field goal. The big plays on the winning drive came when
Tyler Vander Waal connected with
Christian Fredrickson on an 18-yard reception.
Later in the drive
Jalen Henderson caught a 15-yard pass and Vander Waal had a 14-yard run to set up the winning field goal.
Idaho State led 10-3 at halftime after a 22-yard field goal by Ryan and a 19-yard touchdown reception by
Jeff Harris from Vander Waal with 31 seconds left until halftime. The final touchdown drive of the first half took 4:16 off the clock.
SUU quickly tied the game at 10 early in the third quarter. Later in the quarter Henderson caught a 29-yard touchdown reception from Vander Waal to put the Bengals back on top 17-10 with 2:11 left in the third quarter.
SUU would tie the game at 17 with 1:29 left in the third quarter but the Bengals countered when Vander Waal hit
Xavier Guillory for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 7:25 remaining in the game.
After a missed extra point, SUU drove and scored a touchdown with 3:38 to play to give the T-Birds a 24-23 lead, setting up the Bengals game-winning drive.
Idaho State had 433 yards of total offense and held SUU to 356. O'Shea Trujillo led the Bengal rushing attack 10 carries and 66 yards. Idaho State rushed for 195 yards.
Three true freshman caught touchdown passes as Henderson had five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. Harris had four receptions for 53 yards and one touchdown and Guillory caught two passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. Fredrickson added four catches for 53 yards.
Connor Wills led the defense with eight tackles.
Nick Larriva and
Quantraill Morris-Walker each had six.
Idaho State hosts Eastern Washington Saturday, March 13 at 4 p.m. in Holt Arena.
