POCATELLO, Idaho – The Bengals dropped a heartbreaker to Northern Arizona University 30-26 Saturday evening in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Coach Hawkins' Remarks
The Game
It was a defensive first half as both teams were held under 200 yards of total offense and NAU took a 10-6 lead into the locker room.
Gabe Panikowski was the Bengal offense shining star in the first half, scoring all six of the Bengals points on two successful field goal attempts.
While the first half was a defensive fight, the two offenses exploded in the 2nd.
After deferring the kickoff, the Bengals started the 2nd half with the ball looking to score. Kobe Tracy led the Bengals down the field, capped with a 49 yard bomb to Jeff Weimer.
On the Bengals' next drive, the offense stalled on the ISU 40 and set up to punt the ball back to the Lumberjacks. Instead, Scott Atkinson sent a direct snap to Nathan Reynolds who powered 32 yards down field for the first down and setting the Bengals up on the opposite side of the field.
The drive was capped with Panikowski's 3rd field goal of the night, a 30-yarded down the middle putting the Bengals up 16-13.
After an NAU field goal, the Bengals responded explosively, taking just two plays from Christian Fredericksen and Kobe Tracy to go from the 25 to endzone. From the NAU 29, Fredericksen snagged a leaping grab in the endzone to put ISU up 23-16 over the Lumberjacks.
Panikowski, already having a great game for the Bengals, cemented himself as a top kicker in the conference on the next drive for the Bengals. After a short pass to Tsion Nunnally on third down, the Bengals found themselves on the NAU 38. Rather than punt, Panikowski strolled out onto the field and with total confidence, bombed a 55 yard field goal through the uprights with plenty of distance to go.
The Lumberjacks were able to score one more time and on the final drive of the game, hold off the Bengal offense in the endzone to secure the 30-26 win over Idaho State.
Bengal Bites
· Gabe Panikowski had another excellent day kicking for the Bengals. Panikowski scored 14 points off of four field goals and two PATs. Kicking off, Panikowski also had two booming touchbacks in the game.
· Panikowski now holds the longest field goal in the Big Sky this season. His 55 yard success passing the previous season holder of 53 yards. Panikowski's 55 yard field goal ties him with Jared Huk and Pete Garces for 4th longest field goal in Idaho State Bengal Football history.
· The Bengal offensive line, continued to provide excellent pass protection. While they allowed one sack against NAU, the Bengal offensive line has only given up two sacks in the previous five games combined.
· The Bengals had 395 total yards with 280 passing and 115 rushing. Kobe Tracy had 271 yards on 18 completions with two touchdowns.
· Christian Fredericksen had yet another 100+ yard receiving game, with 121 yards on 5 receptions.
· Nathan Reynolds had his first career rushing yards on the the 32 yard gain fake punt first down conversion
· Ross Bolger had another strong punting outing, averaging 49.4 yards on five punts with a long of 54 yards.
· Reynolds led the Bengal defense with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss. Adrian Rodriguez followed with eight tackles.
· Zack Conner had the lone sack for the Bengals, his 2nd of the season.
· The Bengal defense had the 2nd most tackles for loss of the season at 7. The season high came against Western Oregon with 9.
Next Up
The Bengals are back home next week in the ICCU Dome taking on the Sacramento State Hornets at 4:00 PM. Wear Black and Be Loud-
