POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals put together a complete game in front of a raucous homecoming crowd and took down the Northern Colorado Bears 35-21.
The win marks the first victory in Head Coach Cody Hawkins' career and is the first Big Sky Conference opening win for the Bengals since the 2019 season where the Orange and Black defeated Portland State 51-24.
The Northern Colorado Bears came out the gate swinging against the Bengals Saturday night. UNC scored first on a 16-yard rush to take a 7-0 lead In the first quarter.
Down early, the Bengals did what they have done all season, they responded. Jordan Cooke and Hunter Hay's led the Bengals on a seven-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to even the score. The Drive was capped by a leaping grab by Alfred Jordan Jr. in the back of the endzone.
The first quarter ended tied 7-7.
The Bengals went to work in the second quarter. On the Bear's first drive of the 2nd quarter. The Bengal defense came up strong with a fourth and five stop to take over at the 27-yard line. The Bengals went to work, methodically driving down the field capped with the first rushing touchdown of Jordan Cooke's career from the one-yard line. The Bengals went up 14-10.
With a one score lead, the game felt like it could swing either way and looking for a momentum change, Josh Alford of the Idaho State Bengals provided one.
The UNC Bears completed a pass near the 38-yard line and the Bear's wide receiver was off to the races. With a 10-yard head start on the Bengal defenders it felt as if no one could catch him.
With a fiery determination, Josh Alford turned on the jets and with one yard to spare, poked the ball out and forced a touchback, saving a touchdown and getting the ball back into the hands of the Bengals.
The reaction of the crowd was electric. When the head referee announced the turnover, the noise in Holt arena was deafening and the Bengals took that energy and drove to the endzone with 1:34 left of the clock to take a 21-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. Coming out of the locker room, the Bears were not going down without a fight. On their first two drives of the game, the Bears scored consecutive touchdowns to tie the game at 21-21 with five minutes left in the third.
Once again, the Bengals had to make a stand. Instead of tucking tail and losing, the Bengals bared their claws. Getting the ball back, the Bengals made mincemeat of the Bears defense, crossing 75 yards in six plays and scoring on Aiden Taylors second rushing touchdown of the season. The Bengals were up 28-21 and looked to put the game away in the 4th.
The final nail offensively came with 11 minutes left in the fourth. Hunter Hays and Jordan Cooke led the Bengals on a 12 play 58-yard drive that ate six minutes of game clock and resulted in a touchdown to put the Bengals up two scores at 35-21.
With five minutes left, the Bengal defense put the game away. Matthew Sanchez put an end to the Bears last hopes with two interceptions within the final four minutes. Capping off the Bengals with strong defensive play.
The Bengals move to 1-3, 1-0 BSC after the win and look to continue the momentum next week in Missoula, Mont. Taking on the Montana Grizzlies.
Bengal Bites
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) September 23, 2023
Touchdown Bengals!!! pic.twitter.com/gj85sLYAiC
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) September 23, 2023
Touchdown Bengals!!! pic.twitter.com/gj85sLYAiC
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) September 23, 2023
Trickery! pic.twitter.com/bfu2pz5Se5
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) September 23, 2023
CHEDON JAMES TOUCHDOWN!! pic.twitter.com/CukujYRG4G
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) September 24, 2023
TOUCH DOWN pic.twitter.com/kEaBQpn2uw
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) September 24, 2023
W. #RoarBengalsRoar pic.twitter.com/4wv7bHhNq0
- This is the first Big Sky Conference opening win for the Bengals since the 2019 season and the first win since the Bengals defeated Cal Poly on 10/15/2022
- This is the fourth-straight game with a Bengal receiver having more than 100 receiving yards ( Christian Fredericksen 7 catches for 108 yards)
- This is the Bengals' first win against the Bears since the 2014 season, breaking a three-game losing drought. The series now stands at 22-12 in favor of the Bengals and 12-4 at Home in Holt Arena
- This is the first game this season where the Bengals broke the century mark in rushing yards, gaining 103 on the ground against the Bears.
- The Bengals had 429 yards of total offense in the win, the second time this season the Bengals have passed the 400 yard mark.
- Calvin Pitcher had a career-high 13 total tackles for the Bengals. (six solo, seven assist)
- Kris Sanchez broke the double-digit mark in tackles in the game with 10 total.
- Two Bengals had sacks in the game for 12 total yards lost.
- Ross Bolger had his career long punt against the Bears (55 yards).
