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No. 21 Idaho State Heads to Ogden for the Battle for the Train Bell
No. 21/21 Idaho State (4-2, 1-2 Big Sky) at #RV Weber State (4-3, 3-1 Big Sky)
Stewart Stadium | Ogden, UT
1:00 PM MT - Kickoff on ESPN+
Listen: KISU 91.1 FM | KISU.org (Scott Gross)
POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State goes on the road for the annual Battle for the Train Bell on Saturday, facing Weber State in Ogden. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM MT on ESPN+
The Bengals are coming off a 25-24 Homecoming loss to Cal Poly, decided on a Mustang touchdown with 40 seconds left. Mason Lindberg made all five of his field goal attempts in the game, including a 50-yarder. Idaho State is No. 21 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA Coaches Poll this week, and the Bengals are 2-0 on the road this season.
Weber State leads the all-time series 49-17, but Idaho State has won the last two meetings: 43-35 in Ogden in 2024 and 31-3 in Pocatello last season. A win Saturday would give the Bengals three straight over the Wildcats for the first time since 1962-64. The 2024 win was Idaho State's first in Ogden since 1984, and the Bengals are 7-26 all-time on the road in the series.
Quick Look at the Wildcats
Weber State enters 4-3 overall and 3-1 in league play after back-to-back wins. The Wildcats opened with a 30-29 Big Sky win at Northern Colorado, lost at Southern Utah (47-42) and at Colorado (52-21), and beat Northwestern State 49-20. After a 44-41 loss to Portland State, Weber State won 42-34 in double overtime at Cal Poly and beat Idaho 38-27 last week. Four of its seven games have been decided by eight points or fewer.
Running back Spencer Ferguson has run for 410 yards and six touchdowns at 7.3 yards per carry in five games, including 153 yards and a 75-yard run against Idaho. Seth Rigtrup adds 389 rushing yards and six scores and averages 29.0 yards per kickoff return. Quarterback Nate Dahle has thrown for 1,418 yards and 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions and has run for 308 yards, and Devin Brown has thrown for 329 yards in two games. Noah Kjar leads the receivers with 43 catches for 671 yards and nine touchdowns, and Marvin Session averages 19.9 yards per catch.
Teni Worthen leads the defense with 42 tackles and two forced fumbles, and Raimoana Tinirauarii has 41 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Porter Small has a team-high four sacks, three of them at Cal Poly, and Trevian Tribble has two interceptions.
Weber State averages 37.6 points and 190.6 rushing yards per game. It allows 36.1 points and 475.1 yards per game and is minus-8 in turnover margin.
Bengal Bites
Idaho State has won two straight in the series after Weber State won 10 in a row from 2015-23.
Both teams have played Southern Utah and Cal Poly. Idaho State won 28-24 at Southern Utah, where Weber State lost 47-42. Cal Poly beat Idaho State 25-24 a week after falling 42-34 in double overtime to the Wildcats.
Idaho State is plus-10 in turnover margin. Weber State has committed 17 turnovers, and opponents have scored 68 points off them.
Lindberg is 13-of-18 on field goals and 24-for-24 on PATs. His 5-for-5 day against Cal Poly was his second of the season.
The Bengal defense held Cal Poly to 116 rushing yards, its best run-defense performance of the season, and now faces a Weber State offense that ran for 305 yards last week.
Jordan Cooke has 7,198 career passing yards, fifth in program history and 331 behind Russel Hill for fourth. His 42 career touchdown passes tie Mark Hetherington.
Idaho State has outscored opponents 71-18 in the third quarter this season.
Idaho State averages 301.0 passing yards per game. Weber State opponents have completed 57.9 percent of their passes with 17 touchdowns.
Idaho State is 4-for-4 on fourth down this season. Weber State opponents have converted 14 of 19 fourth downs, including all seven attempts in the fourth quarter.
Idaho State has not had a kick blocked this season. Weber State has blocked five.
2: Straight wins for Idaho State over Weber State, its first back-to-back series wins since 1983-84.
49-17: Weber State's all-time series lead.
5-for-5: Lindberg on field goals against Cal Poly.
+10: Idaho State's turnover margin. Weber State is minus-8.
71-18: Idaho State's scoring margin in the third quarter this season.
7,198: Career passing yards for Cooke, fifth in program history.
4-for-4: Idaho State on fourth down this season.
5: Kicks blocked by Weber State this season.
95.9: Receiving yards per game for Weber State's Noah Kjar.
5: Big Sky teams ranked in both national polls (Montana State, Montana, Northern Arizona, UC Davis, Idaho State).
