POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals routed Western Oregon in the 2024 home opener of the ICCU Dome, taking down the Wolves 50-10 in front of the Bengal faithful.
The Orange and Black scored, passing, rushing, defensive and special teams touchdowns in a total team effort win.
Press Conference
Post game, Cortland Horton and Ian Duarte addressed the media. They were followed by head coach Cody Hawkins.
How it Happened
After calming their nerves over the first two drives, the Bengals got serious and opened the game scoring in just three plays.
From the WOU 41, Kobe Tracy avoided the Wolf pressure and maintained his composure to find Ian Duarte 41 yards downfield for the Bengal touchdown.
The Bengal defense set the tone and forced the Wolves into the 2nd of their 12 three-and-outs of the evening.
Stepping back onto the field, the Bengal defense drove down, eventually getting held up by the Wolves and sending out the field goal unit.
Bengal transfer kicker Gabe Panikowsky drilled the first of his three made field goals, a solid 36 yarder down the pipe.
The Bengal defense stuffed WOU next drive and the Bengals took back over and looked almost unstoppable as they drove from the ISU 34 to the Endzone in just five plays, capped by Duarte's second touchdown of the evening, a five yard catch and dive into the endzone and after the PAT the Bengals took a 17-0 lead out of the first quarter.
After forcing an early 2nd quarter punt, The Bengal offense strode back onto the field ready to keep pouring it on.
The Bengal passing offense methodically moved the ball down the field capped with Eric Johnson's first touchdown as a Bengal, a five-yard pitch that moved Johnson into the endzone.
The Bengal defense was just ferocious all game and the following drive they continued the assault on the Wolves, holding WOU to two-straight two-yard rushes and an incomplete pass.
During the game, the Wolves rushed the ball 36 times and averaged only 3.1 yards per carry.
The remainder of the first half was highlighted by the Bengal special teamers in two explosive plays.
First, the Bengals drive stalled on the WOU 33, but the Bengals didn't blink and stepping up to the line, Panikowsky boomed a 51-yard field goal attempt that flew through the middle of the uprights, putting the Bengals up 27-0 with 3:19 to play 1st half.
The two teams traded drives over the last two minutes and with 55 seconds left on the clock, the Bengals forced the Wolves to punt, and as the Bengals crashed into the WOU blockers, Jayden Davis dove in front of the kick and blocked the punt. Junior Damuni dove on the ball in the endzone and scored the touchdown for the Bengals.
The two teams went into the locker room with the Bengals holding all the momentum and a 34-3 lead.
The Bengals started the scoring off in the second half just as explosive as the first.
After being forced from the pocket, Cortland Horton smashed the WOU quarterback, popping the ball out which was quickly grabbed by Janari Boone who sped into the endzone for the first DI defensive touchdown of his career.
The Bengals, up 41-3, settled into a rhythm in the second half, taking as much time off of the clock as possible while also continuing to pass the ball.
Starting the 4th, the Bengals starting on the ISU31, Hunter Hays and Tracy combined at quarterback to drive the Bengals nine plays down the field capped by a short pass to Aaron Blancas who sped his way to the sideline and pushed his way into the endzone.
After a monster sack of 21 yards by Zack Conner, the Bengals took back over and after battling the Wolf defense, Panikowsky hit his third field goal of the evening, a 37 yarder that split the uprights.
The Wolves would tack on a final touchdown, while the Bengals ended the game victorious with the 50-10 win.
Bengal Bites
· The Bengals had 556 yards of total offense, the most for Idaho State since the 2019 season when ISU had 609 in a win over North Dakota, who the Bengals face next week. The 556 yards is the 19th most for the Bengals since the turn of the century.
· The Bengals, led by Jayden Bell's blocked punt for a touchdown was the first since the 2007 season when Sterling Mennear scored a 76-yard touchdown off of a blocked punt against Portland State. In 2005, Mennear also had a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown.
· Boone's fumble recovery touchdown was the first for the Bengals since Kainoa Fuiava returned a fumble 9 yards into the endzone on Sept. 29, 2018 at NAU.
· Kobe Tracy's 343 passing yards were the most since Jordan Cooke vs Eastern Washington 10/14/23 - 389 yards
· Ian Duarte's 123 receiving yards were the most since Alfred Jordan Jr., 133 yards on five receptions at Portland State. October 21, 2023.
· Panikowsky's 51 yard field goal was the longest for a Bengal since Ian Hershey 50 yards, ISU vs Montana 10/01/2022.
· Cortland Horton had 3.5 tackles for loss in the game, the last Bengal to have 4 was Tate Razor, vs. Weber State, Nov. 19, 2016
· In his first game back this season, Bengal receiver Alfred Jordan Jr. had 90 receiving yards on four receptions with a long of 40.
· The Bengal passing offense had 10 plays of 15+ yards with an average of 26.3 yards per explosive play.
· The Bengal defense had 9 tackles for loss, four sacks, two breakups and three QB hurries as they harried the Wolves all evening long.
Next Up
The Bengals travel to Grand Forks, ND next week to start play against FCS opponents taking on the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM in the Alerus Center.
