ISU’s Fesili named FCS National Defensive Player of the Week

POCATELLO — Idaho State University freshman Trehsyn Fesili continues to stack awards and now has a national player of the week award to go with conference honors.

Fesili has been named the STATS Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week after recording six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown in the final minute of ISU’s 34-27 victory at Utah Tech on Saturday. He has also been named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

He leads the Bengals with six sacks this season, to go with 47 tackles (third on the team), including a team-leading 8.5 for loss. Fesili’s interception Saturday was his second of the season, tying him for the team lead, and his fumble forced was number three on the season, also a team-high.

The true freshman’s contributions to Saturday’s Bengal victory started well before the deciding pick-six. Early in the second quarter, with Idaho State trailing 14-0, Fesili strip-sacked Trailblazer quarterback Bronson Barben. Bronson Childs recovered the fumble, giving the Bengals offense possession deep inside Utah Tech territory, resulting in ISU’s first points of the game.

Fesili’s touchdown was the second of the fourth quarter for the ISU defense, to go with a 32-yard scoop-and-score from fellow Hawaii product Zion To’oto’o, who strip-sacked Barben before recovering the ball and returning it to the end zone.

The Bengals outscored Utah Tech 14-3 in the fourth quarter to beat the Trailblazers after trailing 24-20 heading into the final period.

With back-to-back wins, the Bengals (6-3, 3-3) are ranked 22nd on the STATS Perform FCS Top 25. Idaho State will host the No. 3 team on that list, Montana State (8-1, 5-1), this Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Bengals last beat the Bobcats in 2018.