POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State football went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's top programs Saturday night, but a late surge from No. 4 Montana spoiled the Bengals' upset bid as ISU fell 42–38 inside the ICCU Dome before a crowd of 7,674.
"Our guys competed their hearts out," Head Coach Cody Hawkins said after the game. "We were a split second away from pulling it off. I'm just heartbroken for them because they deserved to walk off that field smiling."
The Bengals led for more than 42 minutes and piled up nearly 500 yards of total offense against one of the FCS's premier defenses. Quarterback Jordan Cooke completed 33-of-54 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns while guiding five drives of 70 yards or more. Running back Dason Brooks added 76 total yards and two rushing scores, and wideouts Michael Shulikov (8 receptions, 119 yards), Tsion Nunnally (9 receptions, 110 yards, TD), and Julian Mason (30-yard TD) led a passing attack that kept the Grizzlies on their heels throughout the night.
Defensively, Idaho State was equally disruptive, holding Montana to just 118 rushing yards on 35 carries while totaling three sacks and nine tackles for loss. Linebacker Ryder Holt had six tackles with a sack and 1.5 TFLs, while Cam'ron Willis and Jacob Perez each added sacks as part of a front that consistently pressured the pocket. Safety Rylan Leathers recorded six tackles and an interception that set up a Bengal touchdown, and corner TreShawn Shorty led the team with eight tackles and a pass breakup i
How It Happened
Montana struck first with a 75-yard drive capped by a 21-yard touchdown run from Michael Wortham, but Idaho State's response was immediate. Quarterback Jordan Cooke guided an 88-yard march highlighted by completions to Tsion Nunnally and Damien Morgan, before Dason Brooks powered in from eight yards out to tie the game 7-7.
After the teams traded field goals, including a 42-yarder from Trajan Sinatra to move him to 10-of-10 on the season and close the first quarter,the Bengals began to seize momentum behind a defense that played relentless at the line of scrimmage. Cam'ron Willis, Jacob Perez, and Ryder Holt each registered sacks, while Collin Lewis and Nathan Reynolds combined for multiple tackles for loss that stalled early Montana drives. Collin Lewis led that charge with two tackles for loss, tying for the team lead and helping set the tone defensively.
The Bengals' physicality showed early in the second quarter as Carson Sudbury finished off a nine-play, 72-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to put ISU ahead 17-10. Montana briefly reclaimed the lead on a double-pass touchdown, but the Bengals immediately answered. Cooke connected with Julian Mason on a 30-yard strike down the middle of the field, sending Idaho State into halftime with a 24-18 lead and all the momentum inside the Dome.
The defense continued to hold its ground through the third quarter, forcing Montana into long-yardage situations with constant backfield pressure. The front seven limited All-American running back Eli Gillman to just six rushing yards through three quarters, with Teilor Tuioti, Rylan Leathers, and Noa Calaycay all contributing key stops in the box.
Cooke and the offense capitalized on the defensive surge to open the second half. Brooks' three-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 31-18, capping another efficient 75-yard drive. Montana responded with a touchdown and field goal to close within three, but the Bengals answered again when Leathers intercepted Keali'i Ah Yat's pass and returned it 11 yards to set up a short field. Cooke found Nunnally in the end zone from 22 yards out moments later to push the lead to 38-28 heading into the fourth.
Montana finally broke through late, using Worthham's versatility to spark two scoring drives. Gillman's five-yard run cut the deficit to three early in the quarter, and Worthham's nine-yard touchdown with 3:06 left gave the Grizzlies their first lead since the opening drive.
Idaho State's final possession embodied the night's fight. Cooke completed passes to Nunnally, Ian Duarte, and Damien Morgan to move the Bengals inside the Montana 20, but the drive stalled on fourth down as the upset bid came up just short.
Despite the heartbreak, Idaho State's defense racked up nine tackles for loss and held Montana to just 118 rushing yards on 35 carries, one of the Grizzlies' lowest totals of the season.
Coach Hawkins Postgame
On the locker room message:
"You're a split second away from pulling it off, and I'm heartbroken for our guys," Hawkins said. "There's a lot to be proud of, but that doesn't change how much this one hurts."
On the line of scrimmage:
"Our defensive line played their butts off," Hawkins said. "Montana sets the standard up front, and our guys matched that. It felt like they couldn't run the ball on us for most of the game."
On offensive protection:
"We didn't give up a sack again tonight, six straight games," Hawkins said. "That's elite football in pass protection. Those guys compete their butts off and set the standard for how we play."
On standout performers:
"Nobody can really cover Mike one-on-one, he's a matchup nightmare," Hawkins said of Shulikov. "And Jason's our best pass protector. He's tough, smart, and does everything the right way."
Bengal Bites
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Idaho State's 497 yards of total offense are the most allowed by Montana this season.
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Cooke's 421 passing yards rank 10th-most in program history, just ahead of Mike Machurk's 420-yard performance vs. Portland State in 1981.
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Shulikov and Nunnally became the first Bengal duo this season to each surpass 100 receiving yards in the same game.
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Brooks recorded his second straight multi-touchdown performance and now has seven rushing scores on the year.
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Leathers' interception set up Nunnally's third-quarter touchdown, his first pick of the season.
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The Bengal defense totaled three sacks and nine tackles for loss, led by Perez, Willis, and Holt each with a sack.
Social Bites
Next Up
Idaho State (2–4, 1–1 Big Sky) travels to Bozeman next weekend to take on
Montana State on
Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for
1:00 p.m. MT from Bobcat Stadium, with coverage available on ESPN+ and KISU 91.1 FM.
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