Sept. 2, 2008

Game Notes #2: Idaho State at Idaho

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State's run through the Western Athletic Conference began in Boise last Saturday, and it will end this Saturday when the Bengals take on an Idaho Vandal squad looking to get back on track. The kickoff is at 2:07 pm Pacific Time, 3:07 Mountain Time, and Bengal fans can catch the game live on Altitude Sports as well as the Bengal Radio Network.

Both teams are coming off of losses, with the Bengals playing well but ultimately losing 49-7 to Boise State, and the Vandals losing 70-0 at Arizona in a game marred by lightning delays. The last meeting between the two clubs came just two years ago in 2006, but both coaches that day are now gone. The Vandals squesked by with a 27-24 win under Dennis Erickson, who was at Idaho around 10 months, and ISU was coached by Larry Lewis. Erickson is now manning Arizona State, who ISU plays next year, and Lewis is at Colorado State.

The Bengals proved their run game is up to the challenge, rushing for 115 yards against Idaho, and ISU's running backs rushed for 163 yards, and had just one play for negative yardage. ISU quarterback Russel Hill was economical to say the least, hitting nearly 70% of his passes, going 15-for-22.

Idaho struggled on offense against Arizona, as their two quarterbacks combined to go just 10-of-27 with four interceptions. All told, Idaho gained just 112 yards of offense. Punter T.J. Conley had a huge day though, averaging 48.6 yards per punt, and only a goofy 87-yard fumble return on a botched punt pushed his net down to 27.4 yards.

The game will be on Altitude Sports, one of five Bengal games on the network this year. Altitude can be seen on DISH Network channel 410, or on Direct TV channel 681. The game will also be available on the Bengals Radio Network, flagshipped at ESPN Radio 930 AM KSEI in Pocatello and KRXK 1230 AM in Rexburg. It will also be available for free on www.isubengals.com.