Dylon Harrison
Staff Writer
Lucas Gebhart
Editor-in-Chief
After a turnaround season last year, the ISU football team wrapped up spring practices last weekend with its annual spring game. The 15 spring practices began March 29 and were held on the ICCU practice field.
After going 2-9 for two consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, the Bengals had a turnaround season in 2018, winning twice as many games last season as they did in either of the previous two seasons. The success came under now second-year head coach Rob Phenicie. Notable wins included a two-point victory in Reno against the University of Nevada, and a 59-30 blowout win against Portland State, which was the most points ISU has put up on a Division I school since 1980. The Bengals racked up 691 yards of total offense in the win.
But ISU finished the season on a three-game slide and lost five of its last six ball games, leaving room for improvement in 2018.
“I think we’ve made a lot of great strides this spring,” said quarterback, Tanner Gueller. “I think we’re on the right track to have some success next year.”
Last season, four Bengals were selected first-team all-conference, the most since 2003. Ten ISU players were given some type of all-conference honor, which is the most since 2014. Six of the ten will return next season, including the running back duo of James Madison and Ty Flanagan.
ISU finished the 2017 season with a 4-7 record, the best mark since the team went 8-4 in 2014 under former head coach Mike Kramer.
“We take it one practice at a time,” Phenicie said. “It’s just getting better every day.”
The team is focusing on improving its defense, after having a low statistical ranking in defense last season. The team hopes to continue improving during summer to perform as well as possible in the 2018 season. Last season, the ISU defense finished 10th in the conference in scoring defense and 12th in total defense.
“I think with Roman Sapolu coming in as the offensive line coach, he’s going to give us exactly what we need,” Phenicie said.
ISU will open its 2018 season August 31 when it hosts Western State. The Bengals will then travel to Cal and North Dakota before returning home to host Northern Arizona and Idaho, which will mark the first meeting between the in-state rivals since 2008.
Fall 2018 Football Schedule
Western State Colorado University
August 31 – Pocatello, ID
University of California
September 15 – Berkeley, CA
University of North Dakota
September 22 – Grand Forks, ND
Northern Arizona University
September 29 – Pocatello, ID
University of Idaho
October 6 – Pocatello, ID
Liberty University
October 20 – Lynchburg, VA
Montana State University
October 27 – Pocatello, ID
Portland State University
November 3 – Portland, OR
Cal Poly
November 10 – San Luis Obispo, CA
Weber State
November 17 – Pocatello, ID
