POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State walked into the Kibbie Dome on Saturday afternoon and delivered a rivalry moment 44 years in the making. The Bengals dominated the opening half, controlled all three phases, and closed out a resurgent November with a 37–16 win over Idaho in Moscow, the program's first road victory over the Vandals since 1981.
Head Coach Cody Hawkins said he couldn't hide how proud he was of the way his team finished the season.
"Really excited for how they finished, you know, having two rivalry games back to back and going through what we went through this year," Hawkins said. "I didn't know if we were a championship team, but I knew that we had the best team we had since I'd been here top to bottom. I appreciate all the work of the staff, the players, and the leaders to keep this thing together."
The Bengals wasted no time establishing control. Jordan Cooke orchestrated a 12-play scoring drive on the game's first possession, setting up a 39-yard field goal from Trajan Sinatra. Minutes later, Cooke found Ian Duarte for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 10–0. Idaho State never trailed again.
The second quarter became the defining stretch of the afternoon. The Bengals outgained Idaho 205–72 in the period and extended the lead to 27–0 by halftime. Cooke punched in a one-yard keeper, then connected with Tsion Nunnally for a 30-yard scoring strike with 28 seconds left. After the touchdown, Idaho was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, allowing Mason Lindberg to kick off from the Idaho 35. Lindberg executed a perfectly placed onside-style kick, and Rylan Leathers recovered it at the Vandals' 32. Idaho State turned the bonus possession into a 33-yard Sinatra field goal as time expired.
"I think you saw over the last month what this team is capable of," Hawkins said. "Now the task is keeping this momentum going into the offseason and attacking it with the confidence that we can play this kind of football."
Dason Brooks rushed 23 times for 103 yards, surpassing 1,000 yards on the year and becoming just the eighth Bengal in program history to reach the milestone. Cooke added 212 passing yards and two touchdowns, plus 72 rushing yards and two more scores. Nunnally finished with 86 yards and a touchdown, while Duarte added 70 yards and a score.
Hawkins credited Brooks' season to the unit around him.
"It's a testament to our offensive line and our staff," Hawkins said. "That doesn't happen without an elite ball carrier, and Dayon was that this year. But it also doesn't happen without the leadership and toughness of that offensive line."
Idaho State's defense played one of its most complete games of the season, allowing just 34 rushing yards in the first half and holding Idaho to 2-for-11 on third down for the game. Leathers led the Bengals with nine tackles, pushing him past 100 on the season. Bronson Childs delivered a fourth-down sack and forced fumble, while Gabe Tahir added his first career interception.
"First of all, you always thank the players because the defensive front and linebackers set the tone," Hawkins said. "Coach Duff's attitude and preparation showed. And that young secondary, Mike, Gabe, Riley, those guys have really bright futures."
After Idaho trimmed the deficit to 27–8 in the third quarter, the Bengals responded with their longest drive of the year, a 15-play, 75-yard march capped by Cooke's nine-yard touchdown run. Sinatra's third field goal, a 19-yarder, pushed the lead to 37–8 with seven minutes to play.
"Our guys knew they were capable," Hawkins said. "Sometimes you need a spark, and the win at Davis provided that. I told them playoff football was the standard, and they prepared that way."
With the win, Idaho State finishes the season 6–6 overall and 5–3 in Big Sky play, closing with four straight victories and a perfect 4–0 November.
Bengal Bites
• Dason Brooks rushed for 103 yards and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season, joining Xavier Finney, Alfredo Anderson, Jorsh Brarett, Nick Whitworth, Merril Hoge, and James Madison in the 1,000-yard club.
• Jordan Cooke totaled 284 yards and four touchdowns. His 3,052 passing yards this season rank eighth all-time at ISU.
• Cooke averaged 294.3 yards of total offense per game, ranking fifth in ISU single-season history.
• Tsion Nunnally caught 6 passes for 86 yards and a 30-yard touchdown.
• Ian Duarte caught 5 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
• Damien Morgan added 4 receptions for 38 yards.
• Gabriel Russo averaged 41.7 yards on 3 punts, landing 2 inside the 20. He finishes the year tied for second all-time in single-season punting average.
• Trajan Sinatra went 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on PATs, becoming ISU's all-time single-season kick-scoring leader, passing Zak Johnson from 2014.
• Mason Lindberg delivered four touchbacks and executed the onside-style kick recovered by Rylan Leathers.
• Rylan Leathers posted 9 tackles, surpassing 100 for the season.
• Bronson Childs recorded 1 sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
• Gabe Tahir hauled in his first career interception.
• Teilor Tuioti added 6 tackles and a half tackle for loss, and Nathan Reynolds finished with 5 tackles and a pass breakup.
Team Notes
• Idaho State outgained Idaho 404–259.
• The Bengals built a 27–0 halftime lead, outscoring Idaho 17–0 in the second quarter.
• ISU finished 5-for-5 in the red zone.
• Held Idaho to 2-for-11 on third down.
• Controlled possession for 33:04.
• Recorded the longest drive of the season, a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.
• Forced three turnovers on downs.
Records and Milestones
• First Idaho State win in Moscow since 1981.
• Brooks becomes ISU's eighth 1,000-yard rusher.
• Cooke finishes with 3,052 passing yards (8th all-time) and 294.3 total offense yards per game (5th all-time).
• Sinatra sets the single-season kick-scoring record.
• Russo ties for second in single-season punting average.
• Leathers surpasses 100 tackles.
• Idaho State wins both rivalry trophies, the Train Bell Trophy and the Potato State Trophy.
Series and Rivalry Notes
• Idaho State wins in Moscow for the first time since 1981.
• Bengals end the season with back-to-back rivalry victories.
• Idaho State brings home both rivalry trophies for the first time in program history.
