Seiji Wood
Sports Editor
The Idaho State football team was upset by Cal Poly last Saturday in a 37-14 loss in San Luis Obispo.
The Bengals (6-4, 5-2 BSC), could never get going on offense and ISU was held to a season-low 14 points.
“(Cal Poly) played a heck of a game,” said Rob Phenicie, ISU head coach in a Saturday radio interview. “Give those guys all the credit in the world. They shut us down. We’ve got to do a better job.”
Turnovers and time of possession was the story of the game.
The Bengals had four turnovers and Cal Poly didn’t have any. There were two interceptions thrown by Tanner Gueller, a costly fumble by James Madison in the fourth quarter that was returned for a 40-yard touchdown to increase Cal Poly’s lead to 13, and a fumble by Tanner Connor in the final minute to sum up Idaho State’s offensive effort.
ISU only possessed the ball for 23 minutes and 11 seconds compared to Cal Poly’s 36:49 time of possession. Cal Poly kept the clock rolling and kept the ISU offense on the sideline.
“They took us out of our game,” Phenicie said. “Never got into a rhythm.”
The Mustang’s run defense, prior to Saturday’s game, was one of the worst in the FCS.
Idaho State’s offense had a lot of success in previous weeks, collecting over 700 yards in some games. However, the Bengals had a total of 367 yards, running for 167 and passing for 200.
“Stopped us, so it was really good,” Phenicie said of Cal Poly’s run defense.
Not only could ISU not get anything going on offense, but the Bengals couldn’t stop Cal Poly on defense either.
The Mustangs gathered 374 yards on the ground and had a total of 465 yards. Fullback Joe Protheroe rushed for a career-high 260 yards on a season-best 6.3 yards per carry.
Saturday’s game was his eighth consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing. He is now second all-time in Cal Poly history for rushing yards.
“If we can’t stop him, then the whole thing is going to go,” Phenicie said.
The loss of linebacker Kody Graves last week may have been a factor in this game, but Graves’ backup, Aren Manu, stepped in and led ISU’s defense with 14 tackles.
A win would’ve put ISU in a four-way tie for first place in the Big Sky Conference after Eastern Washington beat conference leader UC Davis.
But the loss removes Idaho State out of the conference title conversation and hurts the Bengals chances to make the FCS playoffs. With one game left, ISU has a must-win game against Weber State this Saturday at home.
If the Bengals win, their win total will be at seven, which the FCS playoff selection committee deems to be the qualifying standard, but those wins need to be against Division I opponents.
ISU’s first win was against a Division II team, putting them one win short.
“We’re still a good team,” Phenicie said. “We played poorly tonight. We’re going to be a lot better next Saturday against the opponent from down south.”
The Bengals chances to make the playoffs are very slim, but not gone. A win against a good Weber State team is ISU’s last chance to prove the Bengals deserve a spot.
