POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State dropped it's home opener to the University of Northern Iowa 41-17 in Holt Arena Saturday evening.
The Panthers relied on almost 400 yards of passing offense to control the game and the win.
After going down 14-0 in the first quarter, the Bengals responded with a booming 49-yard field goal by kicker Thomas Kopcho to get points on the board. The 49-yarder was an Idaho State career-high for the Bengal.
The Panther defense was able to hold the Bengals scoreless in the 2nd half and the team went to the locker room down 27-3
Despite the gap in the score, the Bengals continued to fight on the home turf.
With 6:17 remaining in the 3rd, the Bengals started a drive with a Hunter Hays QB scramble for 11 yards. The Bengals then worked down the field with rushes by Soujah Gasu and Hays chopping up the field. Completed catches by Christian Fredericksen, Alfred Jordan Jr. and Chedon James set the Bengals up for a third and goal on the UNI one-yard line.
Taking a direct snap, Bengal running back Aiden Taylor punched into the endzone for the Bengals' first touchdown of the game. The TD was the first of Taylors' career.
Once again, the Bengals kept fighting and after another drive in the fourth, Hunter Hays launched a fourth-down pass 34 yards to Michael Shulikov who beat his defender in the endzone and snatched his second touchdown of his short career.
Bengal Bites
· The 49-yard field goal was the best of Thomas Kopcho's career and the longest successful field goal for a Bengal since Ian Hershey's 50 yard field goal against Montana on 10/01/2022.
· Chedon James had a career-high 121 yards receiving against the Panthers and is the 2nd Bengal in two games to have over 100 yards receiving. Christian Fredericksen followed with 65 reception yards.
· Tyler Williams led the team with nine total tackles (seven assist, two solo).
· Seven Bengals had tackles for loss with David Rowe leading the team with two for three total yards.
· The Bengal receivers averaged 10.6 yards per completion in the game.
· In his first year as a dual-sport athlete at Idaho State, Michael Shulikov now has caught touchdown passes in consecutive games.
Next Up
It's Homecoming week, the Bengals will welcome the Northern Colorado Bears into Holt Arena next week at 4:00 PM. The week's theme for all the games is Orange Out, so wear your Bengal Orange and cheer on the Bengals at the Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country and Football events next week
