Idaho State (3-3, 1-2 BSC) is coming into the game on a tough loss at home to Montana. The Bengals knocked off a terrible Nevada team in week 2 and are a couple of botched PATs at UNC away from a 4-2 season. ISU is a much-improved team under new HC Rob Phenicie on the offensive side of the ball, but still have some ways to go on the defensive side.
Offensively ISU operates out of the pistol/shotgun. They run read-option out of the pistol in which QB T Gueller rarely keeps it for a run. T Gueller (110/189, 1704 yds, 15 TD, 5 INT) has good vision, a good arm that is accurate, and is an elusive scrambler that can move the chains when needed. The ISU OL gives up a lot of sacks and does an okay job rush blocking.
The ISU RBs are a capable bunch. Madison (5.5 ypc, 3 TD) and Flannigan (5.0 ypc, 4 TD) get the bulk of the carries. Both are threats catching the ball out of the backfield. The ISU WRs are solid group and T Gueller does an excellent job of spreading the ball around to the open receiver. They can make plays down the field and are all good possession receivers as well. Dean (27 rec, 436 yds, 5 TD), Graves (20 rec, 318 yds, 1 TD), and M Gueller (17 rec, 462 yds, 6 TD) are the main targets.
Defensively ISU lines up in a 3-4. They have some good size at DL and a stud LB in Jenkins (72 tkls, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) but are a mess everywhere else. The Bengals have not held any of their D1 opponents to anything less than 413 yards and 34 points (except inept Nevada at 28 points). This defense has forced enough turnovers so that the Bengals are net 0 on the year.
If not for coming off the bye I would expect a closer game. However, I don’t see how ISU stops Thomson and the Hornet offense if they play up to their potential. The Hornet defense will have a tough challenge but they should be able to get after T Gueller early and often. My prediction is the Hornets win by 17+ in front of 8750 people.
Offensively ISU operates out of the pistol/shotgun. They run read-option out of the pistol in which QB T Gueller rarely keeps it for a run. T Gueller (110/189, 1704 yds, 15 TD, 5 INT) has good vision, a good arm that is accurate, and is an elusive scrambler that can move the chains when needed. The ISU OL gives up a lot of sacks and does an okay job rush blocking.
The ISU RBs are a capable bunch. Madison (5.5 ypc, 3 TD) and Flannigan (5.0 ypc, 4 TD) get the bulk of the carries. Both are threats catching the ball out of the backfield. The ISU WRs are solid group and T Gueller does an excellent job of spreading the ball around to the open receiver. They can make plays down the field and are all good possession receivers as well. Dean (27 rec, 436 yds, 5 TD), Graves (20 rec, 318 yds, 1 TD), and M Gueller (17 rec, 462 yds, 6 TD) are the main targets.
Defensively ISU lines up in a 3-4. They have some good size at DL and a stud LB in Jenkins (72 tkls, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) but are a mess everywhere else. The Bengals have not held any of their D1 opponents to anything less than 413 yards and 34 points (except inept Nevada at 28 points). This defense has forced enough turnovers so that the Bengals are net 0 on the year.
If not for coming off the bye I would expect a closer game. However, I don’t see how ISU stops Thomson and the Hornet offense if they play up to their potential. The Hornet defense will have a tough challenge but they should be able to get after T Gueller early and often. My prediction is the Hornets win by 17+ in front of 8750 people.
