Gallery: (4-3-2021) Football win vs Idaho
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State defense had been in this situation before. With the Bengals leading 24-22, Idaho had the ball with 1:50 remaining and a chance to score but the defense held the Vandals on a 4-11 from the Idaho 42-yard line, allowing the Bengals to line up in victory formation and earn the 24-22 victory over the No. 24 Idaho Vandals in the ICCU Battle of the Domes contest.
Idaho State had 483 yards of total offense and the Bengal defense held Idaho to 341 yards.
Tanner Conner caught nine balls for 208 yards. The 208 yards is the fifth best performance in Idaho State history.
Tyler Vander Waal was 21-35 for 398 yards and two interceptions.
The Bengals rushed for 85 yards but scored two rushing touchdowns, one from
Malakai Rango and the other from
Raiden Hunter.
Connor Wills led the defense with 10 tackles.
Oshea Trujillo had nine tackles, one sack and five pass breakups.
Kainoa Fuiava had a career-high nine tackles.
Quantraill Morris-Walker had an interceptions.
Idaho State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The Bengals scored on their opening possession by driving 94 yards on 10 plays. The drive was capped by a Rango three-yard touchdown run. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 40 and 20-yard reception by Conner.
After another Vandal punt, Idaho State drove 89 yards on nine plays to take a 14-0 lead with 1:53 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive was sparked by a 23-yard reception by Conner and a 43-yard reception by
Xavier Guillory on a third and 17 from the Idaho State 33-yard line.
The Bengals went into halftime leading 14-6 and the Vandals would take a 15-14 lead on a Cade Coffey field goal with 4:05 left in the third quarter.
ISU retook the lead at 17-15 on a
Kevin Ryan field goal with 13:35 to play in the game. Conner sparked the drive with a 54-yard reception. The Vandals were forced to punt on their next possession and Idaho State then drove 92-yards on eight plays and scored when
Christian Fredrickson caught a 32-yard touchdown strike from Vander Waal with 8:32 remaining.
Idaho scored a touchdown with 2:48 left in the game to cut the ISU lead to 24-22. The Bengal defense would then hold the Vandals to preserve the victory.
Idaho State closes out the season on Saturday, April 10 at Weber State.
