CEDAR CITY, Utah – Idaho State showed flashes in the passing game and on defense but came up short in a 46-24 loss to Southern Utah on Saturday night at Eccles Coliseum.
Quarterback Jordan Cooke threw for 334 yards and a touchdown, connecting with eight different receivers. Michael Shulikov led the way with 115 yards on seven catches, while Damien Morgan added 98 yards and a 19-yard touchdown grab. Tsion Nunnally chipped in 82 receiving yards, including a 33-yard reception that set up a scoring chance, a new career high.
Defensively, the Bengals produced big plays to stay in striking distance. Mason Young scooped up a fumble and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Cam'ron Willis added a sack. Safety Rylan Leathers and linebacker Nathan Reynolds tied for the team lead with 11 tackles each, Leathers forced the fumble that the defense converted on. Special teams also delivered, with Trajan Sinatra hitting a 40-yard field goal and Robert Freeman IV sparking the game's opening drive with a 41-yard return.
Head Coach Cody Hawkins pointed to lessons his team can take moving forward.
"I told the guys that you gotta take your medicine and use that as fuel to get better," Hawkins said. "Special teams did a pretty good job, but we got beat up on both sides of the ball. That's not how you want to represent Idaho State, and it starts with me. We'll take the lessons from this game and make sure they make us better."
The Bengals now turn their attention to their third straight road test, visiting New Mexico next Saturday in Albuquerque. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and KISU 91.1 FM.
Post Game with Cody Hawkins
Â
How It Happened
Southern Utah struck first, converting a short field into a 22-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter before adding a 13-yard scoring strike to build a 15-0 lead. The Thunderbirds extended their advantage early in the second quarter with a 32-yard touchdown run.
Idaho State responded with back-to-back scores in under a minute. Jordan Cooke found Damien Morgan for a 19-yard touchdown, and on the ensuing drive Mason Young scooped up a fumble and returned it 15 yards for a defensive score to pull the Bengals within 22-14. SUU closed the half with a 20-yard field goal to make it 25-14 at the break.
The Thunderbirds pulled away in the third quarter with a 10-play touchdown drive and a 72-yard scoring run to go up 39-14. ISU answered with Brett Spencer's 1-yard touchdown run, capping a 75-yard march.
In the fourth, Trajan Sinatra drilled a 40-yard field goal to bring the Bengals within 39-24, but Southern Utah put the game away on Joshua Dye's 19-yard touchdown run with four minutes left to finish off the 46-24 final.
Trends Through Two Games
Idaho State has opened the season with back-to-back strong offensive outings and disruptive defensive plays:
-
The Bengals have surpassed 330 passing yards in both games, throwing for 395 at UNLV and 334 at Southern Utah.
-
Jordan Cooke has totaled 729 passing yards and three touchdowns across the first two contests, completing passes to 11 different receivers.
-
Defensively, ISU has registered four sacks and eight tackles for loss through two games, with Bronson Childs, Noa Calaycay, and Cam'ron Willis each providing pressure up front.
-
The Bengals have forced three fumbles in two games, including Mason Young's scoop-and-score at SUU.
Bengal Bites
-
ISU is now 2-5-1 all-time in Cedar City.
-
The Bengals posted 338 passing yards, their highest mark of the young season.
-
Mason Young's fumble return touchdown was his first career defensive score.
-
Sophomore kicker Trajan Sinatra is now 2-for-2 on field goals in 2025.
Game Leaders – Idaho State
-
Passing: Jordan Cooke went 23-of-45 for 334 yards and a touchdown, his second straight 300-yard outing.
-
Receiving: Michael Shulikov paced the Bengals with 7 catches for 115 yards, while Damien Morgan added 98 yards and a 19-yard touchdown. Tsion Nunnally set a new career high with 82 yards on 5 receptions.
-
Rushing: Brett Spencer scored on a 1-yard run, and Tytan Mason posted the team's longest carry of the night with a 16-yard rush. Both career bests for the young Bengals.
-
Defense: Rylan Leathers and Nathan Reynolds each tallied 11 tackles to lead the unit, with Mason Young adding a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Cam'ron Willis recorded a sack for the second straight game.
-
Special Teams: Trajan Sinatra remained perfect on the year, connecting from 40 yards out. Robert Freeman IV sparked the opening drive with a 41-yard kickoff return, while Ian Duarte added two returns for 37 yards.
Stay connected with Bengal Football all season long. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram for highlights, updates, and behind-the-scenes content.
