The Idaho State football team lost 35-14 to No. 8 University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Saturday afternoon in Holt Arena in their first game of the season.
After COVID-19 pushed last year’s season into the spring, the Bengal fans were excited to see their team back in action. Alongside the pregame tailgate, beer gardens had fans buzzing before kick off.
North Dakota led the entire game,jumping out to a 7-0 lead after an Idaho State turnover on its opening possession.
North Dakota led 7-0 after the first quarter and 10-0 five minutes into the second. Idaho State scored its first touchdown right before halftime thanks to a one-yard plunge by sophomore Malakai Rango on a third and goal from the one-yard line. The scoring drive went 80 yards on 13 plays.
North Dakota scored on its opening possession of the third quarter to lead 17-7 and later took a 24-7 lead after another Bengal turnover.
The Fighting Hawks extended their lead to 27-7 early in the fourth quarter. ISU cut its deficit to 27-14 when senior Tanner Conner caught a 31-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Tyler Vander Waal with 10:22 left in the game.
In the fourth quarter, The Fighting Hawks scored one final touchdown to put the game away with 2:43 remaining.
North Dakota was held to 368 yards of total offense while the Bengals finished with 301.
Freshman running back, Raiden Hunter, had 11 carries for 37 yards while Rango had 13 carries for 34 yards and one touchdown.
Vander Waal was 19-43 with one touchdown and three interceptions. He threw for 229 yards. Freshman Xavier Guillory caught five passes for 79 yards and Conner caught three balls for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Connor Wills led the defense with 14 tackles while junior Darian Green added 12.
Idaho State plays at Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 p.m.
