Sept. 22, 2007

Box Score

Pocatello, ID --- Matt Nichols threw a season-high 285 yards as the #25 Eastern Washington Eagles took advantage of five ISU turnovers, including four in the first half, as they cruised to a 34-7 win in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.

The Bengals were done in by five turnovers, four of which came in the first half. The first three lead to Eastern Washington scores, including a pair of Felipe Macias field goals sandwiched around the first of Alexis Alexander's three touchdown runs.

Three of the turnovers were off interceptions from starting freshman quarterback Russel Hill, who finished just 7-for-16 passing for 52 yards. Hill was pulled in favor of sophomore Luke Butler near the end of the first half after his third interception of the half, giving him eight on the season.

Eastern Washington was up 27-0 at the break, getting two long touchdown drives in a 24-point second quarter. Alexander scored on a 37-yard run for a 20-0 lead, and then Eastern capped off a streak of five straight scores with a picture perfect 27-yard pass from Nichols to Aaron Boyce.

Eastern eventually went up 34-0 on a third Alexander touchdown before ISU put together their only scoring drive with a 1-yard Ken Cornist run, capped a 92-yard drive that saw Butler give his body on a 3rd-and-11 with a diving pirouette for a first down early in the drive.

Butler threw for a career-high 264 yards in just over a half for Idaho State, and Eddie Thompson had another nine catches, running his season total to 30, after having 27 all of last year. The Bengals nearly outgained Eastern, as ISU had 400 yards to Eastern's 418.

Ryan Phipps and Sterling Mennear were the stars defensively, with seven and six tackles respectively. Mennear also forced a fumble as the defense gave ISU a chance in the third quarter. The Bengals drove into Eastern territory five times during the period, but came away with no points.

The Bengals will now travel to Bozeman for their conference road opener against the nationally ranked Bobcats. That game will be shown on Altitude at 1:35 pm Mountain Time.

NOTES:Idaho State narrowly avoided getting shutout at home for the first time since losing 48-0 to Montana on Homecoming in 1998 ... Dan Zeidman hit a 71-yard punt down to the 1-yard line to end the first half ... Branden Jones missed a pair of 36-yard field goals from the same spot on the field, one right, then one left ... Eastern's Lonnie Hosley had a nice night with five tackles, two interceptions, a half tackle for a loss, and two passes broken up ... ISU lost their conference opener for the 11th time in 12 seasons.