ISU Bengal

Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Alisha Hatch Freshman Russel Hill, #17, rolls left to throw for a long touchdown.

Media Credit: Alisha Hatch ISU senior Josh Barnett, #8, breaks loose for a crucial 1st down.

Media Credit: Alisha Hatch #11, Terrance Calloway, celebrates his second interception of the 1st half.

Saturday's weather could not have been better for thousands and thousands of people across the country to be out watching football. Thousands came out to watch ISU in Coach Zamberlin's debut, and the football team's first game of this 2007 season. However, the game could not begin before the fans congregated outside of Holt Arena for the tail-gaiting festivities, food and fun. Local band 'Take Over Tuesday' entertained, while kids played on the blow-up toys and all enjoyed the food provided by several local restaurants, and the Associated Students of ISU. Then began the fun.
With 6,056 fans watching the ISU Football Team ran off with a 37 - 11 victory over the Red Raiders of Southern Oregon and the John Zamberlin Era of Idaho State Football has officially begun. It is always tough to gauge exactly how good a team is based on one game, especially when it is against a team three divisions lower. This game was no exception to the rule. ISU's defense looked every bit as good as it should have. With the exception of one big play the defense held Southern Oregon in check, even holding their running game to negative twenty-four yards. Terrance Calloway scored the first touchdown of the season for the Bengals on a 45-yard interception return.
The Bengal offense looked solid, rushing for 245-yards while accounting for showed flashes of brilliance with several big plays, including a 70 yard touchdown pass from Russell Hill to Eddie Thompson. Russell Hill looked solid in his first collegiate start as he completed 20 of 31 passes for 241 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Bengal offense managed 2 touchdowns, and 3 field goals in 6 attempts and let the game clock run out on a seventh trip in side the 20.
ISU's special teams squad had some big plays, unfortunately they weren't all good. Eddie Thompson had a 29-yard return and Kenyon Blue had a 37-yard return on the positive side. On the negative side, a botched snap to punter Dan Ziedman gave Southern Oregon their first 2 points of the game and a fumbled kickoff resulted in the their last 3 points, on special teams. The Bengals had 14 penalties for 150-yards, the most frustrating of which were 3 "celebration" penalties, given for excessive excitement.
Saturday was a day for Bengal fans from all walks of life to come together and enjoy a football game. There were families from all over Southern Idaho meeting at the game. Former players, including current NFL star Jared Allen gathered in the upper reaches of Holt Arena. Parents of players traveled from all over the country to see their sons play game one of the 2007 football season. Saturday allowed for Idaho State to finish the day with some notable accomplishments: ISU is one of three undefeated teams in the Big Sky, Coach Zamberlin has never lost at ISU, and after Boise State's loss at Washington, the Idaho State Bengals have the best record in the state.
Next week the Bengals travel to Corvallis, Oregon to take on the Oregon State Beavers, who lost this week at Cincinatti. The team will return home on September 22nd to face Eastern Washington in their conference opener. Come on out and support the Bengals. They are more than just our home team. These players are our classmates. They are the people we sit next to in the waiting area of our favorite restaurants. They are our brothers, cousins, and friends. They are our Idaho State Bengals.

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