In Idaho State’s 33-0 loss to Montana Saturday afternoon at Holt Arena, the Bengals couldn’t get out of their own way.
ISU (2-4, 1-3 Big Sky) committed seven turnovers, four of which came on special teams. Those giveaways put Idaho State’s defense in tough situations and kept it on the field for a bulk of the contest.
“Our kick return game gave them the ball 100 times it seemed like, in great field position, and we survived defensively,” said head coach Mike Kramer. “Defensively we started off well. We had our backs to the wall from our own volition. Turnovers, and we allowed first downs, yet the defense rallied and keep them kicking field goals. Making guys kick field goals is good.”
ISU’s first offensive play of the game was a Kevin Yost pass that was intercepted by Montana’s Bo Tully. The defense was able to hold the Griz to a field goal attempt, which Brody McKnight hit from 44 yards.
After an offside call on the kick off, Montana kicked again. Dan McSurdy fumbled the return and Montana recovered. Again the Bengal defense had to get back on the field. It made a second straight stand and McKnights’ field goal attempt went wide left.
Idaho State’s offense finally was finally able to run more than one play on its next drive, but a 15-yard pass completion from Yost to Rodrick Rumble ended up being the only positive yards for the Bengals. Yost had a rough afternoon, going 21-46 for 147 yards and three interceptions. He was also sacked four times.
Tight end Josh Hill led the way with seven receptions for 40 yards. Rumbled added six for 73.
It was another poor performance for the ISU offense, gaining only 121 total yards on 55 plays. The team ended with -26 yards on the ground.
The Bengals only crossed midfield twice the entire afternoon.
“We didn’t run the ball, we didn’t throw the ball and we didn’t catch the ball,” Kramer said. “We didn’t protect the passer and we didn’t play real well at quarterback. We did all that and it was a complete meltdown. Don (Bailey) was trying everything he could, trying to spin it a lot of different ways.”
Kramer was also critical of senior running back Tavoy Moore, who played in his second game after returning from an ankle injury.
“We have guys lined up wrong and our debonair tailback, who’s supposed to be a really good player, frizzled and melted himself off the field today,” he said. “So we ended up playing with a freshman and the freshman is not yet ready to be a prime time player.”
Montana’s defense played well, but Idaho State seemed more than happy to play right into its hands.
On the other hand, the Bengals’ defense performed at a much higher level than last Saturday against Portland State. Led by A.J. Storms’ 17 tackles, ISU made plenty of plays in the Grizzlie backfield and limited a normally potent rushing attack to 211 yards. That’s not bad considering the defense was on the field early and often. Montana only got one touchdown in the first half, a 39-yard pass from Jordan Johnson to Sam Gratton. It also grabbed two interceptions, one by Donovan Henley and the other by A.J. Storms.
“This whole week of practice we had to focus on tackling better and just getting in the backfield and make plays,” said senior linebacker Bo Hudeen. “This team, Montana, they ran pretty much the same type of scheme as Portland. We just had to get out there and make the plays that we didn’t make the week before.”
“It was not tiring,” said senior nose tackle Jordan Monga about being on the field so much. “We’re in good shape. We go hard at practice all week. So no, that’s not really tiring. It’s frustrating, but at the same time we have to get on the field and get off the field, too. If we go three-and-out, we’re not on the field very long.”
The Grizzlies (4-2, 3-1) were not able to take advantage of Idaho State’s early turnovers as they went into the half with only a 13-0 advantage.
“We started excellent because our defense held the fort,” Kramer said. “We were within striking distance. For a passing team, 13 points is nothing. That’s level to us. Whether we started off poorly or not, we stayed within range, as a team, of a team that’s been rather salty. I was proud of the way we started. Regardless of how we started off on offense, as a team we started off pretty darn well.”
By the end of the third quarter, the Bengals’ defense began to break down and give up bigger chunks of yardage. Griz Wide receiver Jabin Sambrano had a 28-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and running back Jordan Canada added a 17-yarder in the fourth.
Johnson completed 18 passes on 31 attempts for 267 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Sambrano had two catches for 49 yards and the score.
After a lackluster performance at home, the Bengals begin a four-game road trip that starts Saturday at Weber State.
“I’m not worried about it,” Storms said about having to bounce back from the loss. “I can honestly tell you that in the past three years, this is when I would start to worry. But this team is a lot different. The culture of the team is so much different that even after something like this nobody is concerned.”
“This is only the second shut out in my career, and we came back from that and went into the playoffs,” Kramer said. “To me I’m not real worried about the shut out or any of that other stuff. I’m more concerned about getting back in focus and playing our rear ends off in practice and in the game on Saturday.”
Idaho State must face the Wildcats while being short on offensive linemen. Freshman Jim Bagley left Saturday’s game with a foot injury while senior Braeden Clayson re-injured his wrist.
“He had surgery Wednesday morning,” Kramer said. “They put a tiny screw in his wrist and he tried to play with it. He played as long as he could and he re-injured it again. I imagine Clayson is probably done for the season.”
Kick off on Saturday in Ogden, Utah is scheduled for 4 p.m.