Idaho State's skid hits nine

More News Muslims mark end of Ramadan Local GOP, Dems agree on PMC Couple part of flag ceremony Rights commission meets here Dedicated to service Man charged with home thefts Beware of voter scams Control of Wachovia in dispute Idaho to get logging payments Local Franciscan sister dies Bailout: What's next? House OKs unemployment bill Pocatello defies jobs trend Passenger Rail Funds Okayed Officials field PMC questions Sports Idaho State's skid hits nine Thompson breaks record Robinett: Losses now the norm

dthompson@journalnet.com

POCATELLO -- Just so it's clear: Idaho State can play well in every quarter of a football game, but apparently not in the same game.

As was the case the week before, and the week before that and even the week before that, Idaho State picked a 15-minute span -- on Saturday it was a portion of the first half -- and dominated it.

During the second quarter, Idaho State suffocated Montana State's offense, held it to negative-3 yards, in fact. Its own offense finished an 80-yard drive early in the quarter to reel the game back within the Bengals' reach. The announced crowd of 6,121 fans at Holt Arena got loud again.

But two lost fumbles, an interception, a missed field goal and other wasted opportunities on offense spoiled this one for the Bengals, who extended their losing streak to nine games with a 33-21 loss to Montana State.

It also soured a record-setting day for senior Eddie Thompson, who passed Sale' Key on the school's all-time receptions list.

"I'm sick of losing, and the team is sick of losing," said junior running back Clint Knickrehm. "We've yet to put a full game together."

During their first four losses this year, the Bengals (0-5 overall, 0-2 Big Sky) were hampered mostly by a leaky defense that ranked 117th nationally in total yardage allowed before Saturday.

But in this, the team's first home conference game of the year, its offense couldn't produce in key situations.

After sophomore quarterback Cody Kempt led touchdown drives on the Bobcats' first three possessions -- erasing an early 7-0 Idaho State lead -- the Bengals defense clamped down and put together its best stretch of the season. The unit gave up 169 yards in the first quarter but allowed just 189 the rest of the game.

But from the middle of the second quarter until midway through the third, Idaho State's offense remained in a sort of stasis when all it needed was a touchdown to tie the game.

Kenyon Blue's 22-yard touchdown catch on a backside screen pass pulled Idaho State within a touchdown, 21-14, with 12:11 left in the second quarter. After that, Idaho State didn't get any points out of its next eight drives.

On those eight drives, Idaho State breached Montana State's half of the field four times, but those series ended in two fumbles, a punt and a missed field goal.

Its best scoring chance came late in the first half, when Jaron Taylor reeled in a 29-yard pass in the end zone. But an offensive pass interference call negated the play, and Jarrett Huk missed a 45-yard field goal four plays later.

"Not that that play ruined our chances by any means," Hill said of the pass, "but it would've been nice to have it."

All the while, Idaho State's defense was holding its own.

Idaho State forced five three-and-outs, recovered a fumble and allowed a season-low 12 second-half points, two of which came on a safety after Montana State (3-2, 1-0) blocked a punt.

While the Bobcats gained 171 rushing yards -- becoming the 15th straight team to clear the 100-yard rushing mark against the Bengals -- they needed 48 carries to get them.

"Their primary goal was to run the ball, and we shut them down with that so they had to open up the playbook," said sophomore safety Keith Goins Jr. "We held our own as a defense."

Montana State took advantage of the Bengals' struggles and added a C.J. Palmer touchdown run, the safety and a Jason Cunningham 50-yard field goal to expand what had been a one-score lead into a 33-14 advantage.

Hill finished the game with 350 yards passing on 32-of-49 attempts, including a 42-yard touchdown pass to Edsel Logan on a fourth-and-8 in the fourth quarter that got the game to its final margin.

The Bengals' one-two punch of Cornist and Knickrehm added 102 rushing yards on 24 carries, balancing the 113 yards from Montana State backs Demetrius Crawford and Palmer.

Their defense also kept Kempt under control, holding the visiting quarterback to 187 passing yards and 44 rushing yards -- though they never intercepted him as the Bobcats' other three Division I opponents had this season.

It is that improved defensive effort Idaho State players and coaches pointed to after the game, and they refuted the idea they don't know how to win.

"We're not losers, and everybody knows that," said junior cornerback Michael Wright, who recorded a team-high 11 tackles. "It's always one play, two plays that keeps us from being successful. Most of the guys here come from successful programs, so we all know how to win. We just gotta get that click and know that we can do it."

Their next chance comes Saturday at Northern Colorado in Greeley, where the Bengals won 41-13 two seasons ago. Idaho State also beat the Bears last season at Holt Arena, 26-14.

"The only frustrating thing is that we lost," Thompson said. "We still played good. Coaches did their job. Things just happen. This is just one of the ones we just took a loss in.

"Montana State just outplayed us today."

By Dan Thompson

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

Reader Comments

Submit a Comment

Commenting Rules

Report a Comment