Gallery: (9-21-2024) Idaho State vs Southern Utah University
POCATELLO, Idaho – In front of a homecoming crowd of almost 9,000, the Idaho State Bengals defeated the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 38-28 to defend the ICCU Dome and go 2-0 at home on the season.
The Idaho State offense was firing on all-cylinders and the defense held strong stopping the strong SUU running game on four-of-four 4th down attempts.
Press Conference
Post-game, running back Dason Brooks and Safety Jayden Bell addressed the Media first.
They were followed by Head Coach Cody Hawkins who sang the praises of his team and highlighted what the Bengals need to work on before welcoming a strong Montana State team.
How it Happened
After winning the coin toss, the Bengals deferred to the 2nd half and the ISU defense took the field and set the tone. After stuffing the SUU running back two plays in a row, Mason Young broke up the 3rd down pass attempt and the Thunderbirds started the game with a three and out.
The Bengal offense then took the field with Kobe Tracy at the helm. With the SUU pass rush attempting to attack, the Bengals started chewing up the field. With rushes from Keoua Kauhi and completed passes, the Bengals marched down the field and Hunter Hays capped off the Bengals' opening drive with a 4 yard rush into the endzone.
The Bengal defense had its first opportunity to face an SUU 4th down attempt the next drive. Kris Sanchez got his hands in the air and deflected the pass, forcing the turnover on downs.
The Bengals saw their opportunity and kept their foot on the gas. Over the next 4 minutes, the Idaho State offense was nearly unstoppable, chewing up the field as they drove from the ISU 33 to the opposite endzone. The drive was capped with Hunter Hays' 2nd rushing touchdown of the evening.
Gabe Panikowski tacked on a field goal with 5 minutes to play in the 2nd and the Bengals were rolling up 17-7 in the Dome.
After the Bengal defense forced another three and out, the Bengal offense took the ball back with 3:10 on the clock and the endzone in their sights.
Justice Jackson told the T-Birds, welcome to the Dome, as he sprinted 13 yards down the field and hurdled the SUU defender for the first down. The Bengals then chopped up the field with more rushes and a big 19-yard catch by Jeff Weimer.
With 10 seconds left, Kobe Tracy slung an 18 yard dart to Eric Johnson, who powered his way into the endzone.
Headed into the locker room, the Bengals led 24-7 and held all the momentum in the game.
After a halftime celebration of the Homecoming honorees and three returning Bengal championship teams.
The Thunderbirds were the first to score in the 2nd half, cutting the Bengal lead to 24-14 and trying to get back into the game.
Dason Brooks ended that with one play. Taking the handoff from Kobe Tracy, Brooks cut to the outside, juked the secondary and the race was on. Sprinting down the field, Brooks powered his way 75 yards down the turf and pushed his way into the endzone, extending the Bengal's lead to 31-14.
The Thunderbirds were able to tack on two scores before Christian Fredericksen put the game out of reach with a 20-yard touchdown catch from Hunter Hays.
Idaho State won the day with a 38-28 final over the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah
Bengal Bites
· Idaho State is now 40-39-3 all-time in homecoming games, the Bengals are 1-1 against SUU in homecoming games.
· Idaho State moved to 12-7-1 all-time against SUU and 10-3 in Pocatello against the Thunderbirds.
· Dason Brooks' 75-yard touchdown run is the longest for a Bengal since Ty Flangan's 75 yard touchdown run in the 2019 season.
· The Bengals' 272 rushing yards are the most for an Idaho State team since ISU's 40-31 win at Cal Poly in 2022 where the Bengals ran for 293 total yards. The previous high was also against Cal Poly in 2021 where the Bengals rushed for 227 yards and 213 against Montana State that same year.
· ISU's 161 passing yards are the lowest for the Bengals since an 80-yard game against UC Davis in 2022.
· Dason Brooks' 139 yards gained on the ground is the first 100+ yard rushing game for a Bengal since Raiden Hunter vs UNC in 2022.
· The Bengal Offensive Line gave up 0 sacks in the game against the Thunderbirds, who were averaging 2.5 per game.
· Jayden Bell had a career-high 10 tackles to lead the Bengals in the game.
· The Bengals had 4 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in the game as the ISU Defense led the Bengals to victory.
· Ross Bolger had a season-high 51.8 average punting over 4 attempts.
· Gabe Panikowski had another strong game with his leg, going 5-for-5 on PATS, kicking a field goal and three touchbacks through the endzone.
Highlights
Next Up
Idaho State remains in Pocatello for the start of Big Sky Conference play. The Bengals welcome Montana State to the ICCU Dome for a conference clash. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM MT.
