Lucas Gebhart
Sports Editor
The Idaho State Bengals thumped the Simon Fraser Clan Saturday afternoon by a score of 47-3 at Holt Arena. This is Simon Fraser’s second trip to Pocatello in three years, the Bengals defeated the Clan in 2014 by a score of 66-14.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tanner Gueller threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, picking up his first collegiate win, but lost three fumbles and was sacked four times.
“Really a fairly convincing effort,” head coach Mike Kramer said in a postgame press conference. “I wouldn’t call it dominant. A lot of errors and a lot of inexperience in our offensive line. Its defensive line got after our quarterback pretty good but we had too many turnovers at quarterback.”
Gueller completed 12 of his first 13 throws but the three turnovers are an area where he and his coach says can be improved.
“I did alright,” Gueller said. “There were some good things, some bad things that I need to clean up. Just watch the film and evaluate them.”
“Our quarterback cannot hold the ball and get sacked-fumbled,” Kramer added.
Despite the turnovers, Kramer has high hopes for his redshirt sophomore quarterback.
“He played pretty well,” Kramer said. “He is going to play way, way better.”
Kramer had high praise for the defense. Led by linebackers, Joe Martin and Mario Jenkins, the Bengals stifled the Clan offense all afternoon, picking off Simon Fraser quarterback Miles Richardson two times recovering and one fumble while holding the Clan offense to 233 total yards.
This was the first chance for Kramer to test out his new 4-3 defense in action.
“Loved it. Loved it,” Kramer said. “Loved those three linebackers, loved our pass rush, especially in the middle.”
“It was awesome,” linebacker Hayden Stout added. “It takes the burden off of us, it is a lot less responsibility.”
KW Williams got the scoring started when he hooked up with Gueller for a 37-yard touchdown pass on a middle screen play that gave Simon Fraser fits all day.
The Bengals scored on the same middle screen play in the third quarter where this time, Williams took it 63 yards – his second longest touchdown reception of his career.
“We have had a lot of success with it,” Williams said. “It is a play that I really like.”
Williams ended the day with four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Jakori Ford found the end zone once off of 12 carries and 68 yards. James Madison, Ty Flanagan and Michael Dean also saw work in the backfield as Dean scored his first collegiate touchdown with just under six minutes left in the ball game.
“Our veteran guys like Josh Cook, KW, and Jakori, played like veterans today,” Kramer said. “They played outstanding and that was fun to see.”
One of the more interesting plays of the game came in the second quarter when the Bengals held a 14-0 lead.
The Clan were punting out of its own end zone, when punter Colin Cossette took a knee instead of punting the ball back to ISU. The move gave ISU a safety, extending the lead to 16-0 and a big return off of the safety set kicker Zak Johnson up a 34-yard field goal attempt, which he knocked through the uprights.
“Each coach has his own idea of gamesmanship,” Kramer explained. “It was a bold strategy,” Stout added.
ISU held a 26-0 lead going into the locker room and returned to their stifling defensive play in the second half.
Taison Manu and Jenkins both returned to action after missing then entire 2015 season and Kramer was very pleased with what he saw.
“Fantastic,” Kramer said. “I’m going to my orthodontist to get my braces fixed because my smile is so big.”
“Felt good,” Jenkins said. “Just getting back into it for the first series but overall I felt pretty good.”
Jenkins finished the game with seven tackles in limited action while fellow linebacker Martin finished with nine and picked up his first career interception in the third quarter.
The Bengals travel to Boulder, Colo. next week as they take on a 1-0 Buffalo squad that spanked in-state rival Colorado State 44-7.
