2008 Woodie Awards
ISU football wins thriller against Portland
Last minute nail-biter adds extra kick for crowd.
Joe Williams
Issue date: 11/19/05 Section: Sports
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Jaret Johnson's 54 yard field goal with one second left on the clock gave ISU a thrilling 36-34 win over Portland State in a game where the lead changed hands five times in the final period, Saturday at Holt Arena.
The Bengals improve to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in conference play. With the loss, Portland State falls out of the 1-AA playoff picture at 5-5 on the season and 3-3 in Big Sky action.
It was the final home game of the season for the Bengals and the ISU seniors could not have asked for a better way to go out.
"I loved it," said Shedrack Okoebor. "You couldn't ask for it to go any other way. It's not good for your heart."
Okoebor got the game off to an exciting start with a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone by Sterling Mennear, putting ISU ahead 7-0.
"It was something we exploited all week," Okoebor said. "It was a block that was in our packages. They found the right one at the right time. I tip my hat to the coaching staff."
After the Vikings had tied the game at seven, Matt Hagler found Ken Cornist for a nine yard touchdown pass to put the Bengals back on top 14-7. Cornist was back in the end zone again on the Bengals next possession, this time on a two yard run, to put ISU in front 21-7.
With everything going the Bengals way, they had a chance to put one more score on the board before the half. But an ISU fumble set the Vikings up for a field goal to pull to within 21-10 at the half, and sent them to the locker room with the momentum.
The Vikings continued to have the momentum on their side during the third quarter. With a touchdown on the opening possession of the second half, the lead was down to 21-17.
ISU found themselves trailing for the first time, 24-21, after Portland State found the end zone again near the end of the third quarter.
The Bengals had an answer though, scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter to regain the lead 28-24. It was a quarterback sneak from Hagler that put the Bengals on top. A Viking fumble on the next play went out of the end zone for a safety extending the lead to 30-24.
The Bengals improve to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in conference play. With the loss, Portland State falls out of the 1-AA playoff picture at 5-5 on the season and 3-3 in Big Sky action.
It was the final home game of the season for the Bengals and the ISU seniors could not have asked for a better way to go out.
"I loved it," said Shedrack Okoebor. "You couldn't ask for it to go any other way. It's not good for your heart."
Okoebor got the game off to an exciting start with a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone by Sterling Mennear, putting ISU ahead 7-0.
"It was something we exploited all week," Okoebor said. "It was a block that was in our packages. They found the right one at the right time. I tip my hat to the coaching staff."
After the Vikings had tied the game at seven, Matt Hagler found Ken Cornist for a nine yard touchdown pass to put the Bengals back on top 14-7. Cornist was back in the end zone again on the Bengals next possession, this time on a two yard run, to put ISU in front 21-7.
With everything going the Bengals way, they had a chance to put one more score on the board before the half. But an ISU fumble set the Vikings up for a field goal to pull to within 21-10 at the half, and sent them to the locker room with the momentum.
The Vikings continued to have the momentum on their side during the third quarter. With a touchdown on the opening possession of the second half, the lead was down to 21-17.
ISU found themselves trailing for the first time, 24-21, after Portland State found the end zone again near the end of the third quarter.
The Bengals had an answer though, scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter to regain the lead 28-24. It was a quarterback sneak from Hagler that put the Bengals on top. A Viking fumble on the next play went out of the end zone for a safety extending the lead to 30-24.