LAS VEGAS — Special teams, the hidden part of any football game often overlooked, underappreciated, ignored, is killing Idaho State.

Whether ISU is kicking off, punting, attempting field goals, whatever, it’s an adventure every time. And, as of late, it’s a disaster.

The Bengals had a first quarter awful enough they should never watch the film of their 80-8 loss Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

“God awful. God awful. Just miserable,” said ISU head coach Mike Kramer. “Miserable in all facets. Miserable in the kicking game to begin with. And miserable on defense to end it. Eight points won’t beat anybody.”

A lot of things didn’t go well for ISU (1-3, 0-1 Big Sky). Duh, right? But special teams is where everything collapsed and imploded.

In the opening 15 minutes of the game, UNLV returned the opening kick off to Idaho State’s 28-yard line, setting up a short touchdown drive.

The Rebels blocked a 43-yard field goal attempt, and then returned the ball to the Bengals’ 23 — setting up a short TD drive.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Rebels, who are now 1-3 overall, blocked an ISU punt and took over at the 11 — setting up, you guessed it, a short scoring drive.

The Bengals were a sieve defensively, struggling to stop the run for the third straight game, but it was the special teams that made sure the momentum kept swinging to the UNLV sideline.

The Rebels led 35-0 after the first quarter, setting a record for the most points the school has ever scored in any quarter.

The Rebels led 52-8 at halftime, establishing a new standard for the most points the school has ever scored in any half.

And 80 points is the most the Rebels have ever had in a single game. In fact, it’s more than any other Mountain West Conference team has ever tacked on the scoreboard. Period.

UNLV did what it wanted, when it wanted and seemingly with ease, outgaining Idaho State 626 to 292. Just like Boise State in ISU’s previous game, the Rebels were particularly effective rushing the ball. They diced Idaho State’s defense with a variety of tailbacks and quarterbacks.

The Rebels hit for big plays, bounding into the end zone on long passes and galloping runs, rattling off 517 yards and six touchdowns on the ground and averaging 9.6 yards a carry.

Idaho State was stuck just trying to stop the bleeding. Junior quarterback Michael Sanders, before being subbed out midway through the third quarter, finished 14 of 33 for 164 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Senior receiver Madison Mangum was his top target, hauling down eight catches for 97 yards. Senior CJ Hatchett had Idaho State’s lone touchdown, a 25-yard strike from Sanders in the second quarter.

Honestly, though, none of it matters. This was a butt-kicking of a monstrous proportion. The 2014 Bengals, the team that finished the season ranked, nearly won the Big Sky Conference and earned the respect of its opponents, is long gone.

The 2015 Bengals are something else.

They’re dangling on the edge of falling victim to another losing season. Because in truth, it isn’t just Idaho State’s special teams that are a mess right now.

It’s the entire team.

“Huge step back. Monster step back,” Kramer said. “Two of these back to back will gut your program if you’re not careful. … I’ll need every ounce of coaching ability I have to rally us now because we’re back to square one.”

Recommended for you

Welcome to the discussion!

The Idaho State Journal invites you to take part in the community conversation. But those who don't play nice may be uninvited.

Comments that are:

  • off topic
  • defamatory
  • libelous
  • obscene
  • racist
  • abusive
  • threatening
  • an invasion of privacy (doxxing)
  • profane (including attempts to misspell profanity in order to get around the profanity filter)

will be deleted. Repeat offenders will lose commenting privileges.

Comments are opinions of the author only, and do not reflect the opinions or views of Idaho State Journal.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Post a comment
Stop watching this discussion.