LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Underdogs on paper, fearless in execution. Idaho State pushed FBS opponent UNLV to the wire Saturday afternoon inside Allegiant Stadium, trading punches in a back-and-forth thriller before falling 38-31 in the 2025 season opener.
The Bengals led twice in the second half and outgained the Rebels 555 to 532, showing no signs of intimidation despite entering as a multiple-score underdog. In the end, four turnovers and two short-field Rebel touchdowns in the fourth quarter proved costly, but the Bengals made a clear early-season statement.
"This was a heavyweight fight," Head Coach Cody Hawkins said. "We came here to compete, and we did. I'm proud of our guys for not flinching."
The first points of the 2025 season came from a new face , sophomore kicker Trajan Sinatra, who drilled a 26-yard field goal to cap a 67-yard opening drive. It marked the first made field goal of his ISU career.
After a forced fumble in the end zone by senior safety Mason Young , the third forced fumble of his career , Idaho State doubled its lead with a trick-play touchdown. Quarterback Jordan Cooke handed off, lined up wide, and then caught a 15-yard touchdown from Michael Shulikov, his first career touchdown pass. For Cooke, it was the first receiving touchdown of his career and the Bengals' first TD reception of the season.
UNLV countered with explosive plays from running back Jai'Den Thomas, including 39- and 70-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter. But Idaho State stayed aggressive. On special teams, Robert Freeman IV ripped off a 35-yard kickoff return in his first return of his Bengal career and followed it up with a career-long 30-yard rush.
Defensively, the Bengals turned up the pressure. Noa Calaycay recorded his first career sack on one drive, and senior Cam'ron Willis followed with one of his own , the sixth of his career , forcing a UNLV punt with 3:38 left in the half. Two plays later, Dason Brooks raced 27 yards for a touchdown, the fifth of his career and ISU's first rushing TD of 2025. He crossed the 78-yard mark on the run and would surpass 100 yards before the third quarter ended.
UNLV opened the second half with a long drive to take a 21-17 lead, but Brooks again set the tone with a 13-yard carry on ISU's first snap , putting him over 100 rushing yards in a game for the first time since a 2024 win over Southern Utah. The junior finished with 132 yards on 18 carries, his second-best total in a Bengal uniform.
Later in the third quarter, Cooke connected with Ian Duarte for a 64-yard touchdown , the longest reception of Duarte's career and Idaho State's longest offensive touchdown since 2020. The score tied the game at 24-24 with 4:15 to play in the third. On the ensuing kickoff, Mason Lindberg recorded the second tackle of his career, hustling downfield from his kicking position.
The Bengals went back in front early in the fourth quarter, as Brooks punched in his second touchdown of the game from two yards out to give Idaho State a 31-24 lead.
But the Rebels responded with two decisive touchdown drives and sealed the game late with an interception and fourth-down stop. Still, Idaho State had one last surge , moving inside the UNLV 35 before a penalty and pass pressure stalled the drive.
Quotes from the Bengals
On offensive execution and identity:
"I feel like at times we showed what we really could be, and the times that we didn't are just things we need to shed," said running back Dason Brooks, who finished with 132 rushing yards. "If we do that, we'll be reborn as a whole new team."
On the run game clicking:
"The O-line gave me every single chance I had to get anything I could," Brooks added. "I just wanted to capitalize. I'm really proud our run game is starting to show its effect."
On defensive performance:
"We came out hot," said linebacker Teilor Tuioti, who led ISU with 13 total tackles. "But defense is about doing your job. When you don't, you give up explosive plays. This is a learning moment , not a loss."
On the locker room message postgame:
"Coach told us to keep our heads up," Brooks said. "We showed we can win games. Now we just have to clean up what we messed up."
On the team's performance against an FBS opponent:
"I thought they played about as well as they could have," said Head Coach Cody Hawkins. "We had a lot of correctable mistakes, but a lot of guys who hadn't been asked to make plays before stepped up and made plays."
On quarterback Jordan Cooke's command:
"Jordan played really well," Hawkins said. "He made great checks against pressure and hung tough. He's in command. When he knows what's going on, he's hard to stop."
On Brooks and the run game:
"Dason Brooks is a special player," Hawkins added. "He should be an All-Conference running back. If he doesn't get 20 carries a game, I'm not doing my job."
On the defense under new DC Grant Duff:
"They were physical and played really hard. Third down was huge for us," Hawkins said. "You saw the fire and togetherness. That's the culture Coach Duff and that staff bring."
On what's next:
"Southern Utah's a playoff-level team, and they're coming with both barrels," Hawkins said. "It'll be a different type of atmosphere in Cedar City, and we'll need to be ready to match that toughness."
Bengal Bites
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Total Offense: Idaho State outgained UNLV 555 to 532, averaging 7.2 yards per play.
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Dason Brooks posted 132 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 carries, his second career 100+ yard game.
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Jordan Cooke finished 30-for-50 for 380 passing yards and added a 15-yard touchdown reception on a trick play from Michael Shulikov, who also had a 34-yard catch to match his career long.
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Ian Duarte's 64-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was a career-long and tied the game at 24. It marked the longest ISU offensive touchdown since 2020.
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Teilor Tuioti led all defenders with 13 total tackles (3 solo, 10 assisted) and Rylan Leathers followed with a career-best 12 total tackles at safety and a tackle for loss to force a UNLV three and out.
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Cam'ron Willis and Noa Calaycay each recorded a sack, including Willis' sixth career sack.
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Mason Young forced a fumble in the end zone in the first quarter , his third career forced fumble.
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Robert Freeman IV posted career longs in both kick return (35 yards) and rushing (30 yards), finishing with 94 all-purpose yards.
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ISU went 5-for-13 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth down.
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Sophomore kicker Trajan Sinatra opened the scoring with a 26-yard field goal , his first career make.
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Mason Lindberg notched his second career tackle while covering a kickoff.
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Next Up
Idaho State hits the road again next Saturday, traveling to Cedar City for a non-conference battle with Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds are coming off a strong 2024 campaign and will be a legitimate FCS challenge for the Bengals
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT from Eccles Coliseum. The game will stream on ESPN+.
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