Bengals put up 59 points, bulldoze FBS San Diego Toreros

POCATELLO — Very little went wrong for the Idaho State Bengals Saturday.

The University of San Diego Toreros rushed for 235 yards, the most Idaho State has allowed this season; Mason Lindberg, last week’s FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week, missed two of three field goal attempts; and third-string quarterback Wyatt Horton suffered an apparently serious leg injury in the closing minutes of the game.

But the results were positive for the No. 17 Bengals, who used more ball-hawking defense and big-play offense to beat San Diego 59-17 inside the ICCU Dome.

ISU’s dominance started quickly when the Bengal defense forced a Torero punt on the game’s opening possession. In five plays, ISU marched 56 yards finishing with a four-yard Davis Harsin touchdown run.

Less than 11 minutes into the game, the Bengals led 21-0.

Idaho State finished nine of their 13 possessions with points — with two of the other four ending on missed Lindberg field goals.

Seven different players scored a touchdown, including defensive tackle Collin Lewis, who broke several tackles en route to a 28-yard pick-six early in the third quarter.

Sophomore wide receiver Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio was once again the Bengals’ big-play man, scoring on touchdown receptions of 79 and 90 yards. He finished the game with three catches for 195 yards, and three rushes for 27 yards.

Senior quarterback Jordan Cooke was stellar again, throwing for 331 yards and three scores before spending most of the fourth quarter on the sideline.

Their 59 points are the most the Bengals have scored against a Division 1 opponent since putting 62 on the Idaho Vandals on Oct. 6, 2018.

The ISU defense spent significant time in the offensive backfield, as they had through the first two games of the season, finishing with four tackles for loss and one sack.

Idaho State entered the game tied for fourth among FCS teams with four interceptions. They snagged two more Saturday — Lewis and Jackson Daniels.

The Bengals will get a week off before visiting Southern Utah on Sept. 26 to open Big Sky Conference play.