Idaho State knocks off Utah State, 29-17
Idaho State walked in the underdog and walked out with the win. What actually happened.
Mason Lindberg scored 15 of Idaho State's points. Idaho State knocks off Utah State, 29-17 at Maverik Stadium. Idaho State was not the side anyone expected to be up 12 at the end of it.
The turnover battle was the game
Idaho State won the turnover battle 0-4: TreShawn Shorty (2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1.5 tackles), Jacob Perez (1 INT, 5.5 tackles) and Troy Wilkey (1 INT, 1.5 tackles). Utah State produced 9 plays of 15+ yards to Idaho State's 3, chiefly McCae Hillstead (involved in 5), Eli Wood (involved in 2) and Grady Brosterhous (involved in 2). That's what carried Idaho State.
How the two sides actually played on the night.
The plays that turned it
Three plays carried most of the swing. Grady Brosterhous's 2-yard run that came up short on 4th-and-1 at Q3 06:22. Then Jordan Cooke's 30-yard throw to Julian Mason on 3rd-and-11 at Q3 02:10. Later, Grady Brosterhous's 22-yard throw to Nikko Boncore on 4th-and-11 at Q4 00:21.
The standouts
Jordan Cooke threw for 152 yards on 33 attempts with one touchdown and ran 11 times for 5 yards and one score, including two of them from inside the 20 and four third-down conversions. Julian Mason caught seven passes for 75 yards. For Utah State, McCae Hillstead threw for 178 yards on 30 attempts with two touchdowns and ran nine times for 43 yards, with that score from inside the 20, six third-down conversions and a hand in five plays of 15 yards or more. Eli Wood caught six passes for 90 yards, one of them for a touchdown — two third-down conversions. Demick Starling caught three passes for 30 yards, one of them for a touchdown — that score from inside the 20 and two third-down conversions. TreShawn Shorty was the disruptive one for Idaho State: 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1.5 tackles.
How it unfolded
Idaho State struck first through Mason Lindberg, led 16-10 at the half and Idaho State got the final points on a late field goal by Mason Lindberg.
The disruptive ones
Two names to keep, all for Idaho State: TreShawn Shorty (2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1.5 tackles) and Trehsyn Fesili (2.5 sacks, 2.5 TFLs, 5 tackles). 3 of Idaho State's 3 sacks came from the defensive line.
How it graded
The closing line had Utah State -15.5. Idaho State covered. The total was 59.5; the teams combined for 46, an under. Mason Lindberg accounted for 15 of Idaho State's points.
Where it leaves them
Historically similar games since 2019 — close margin, both offenses held far below norm — and how often that offense outperformed this level the following week.
A program win for Idaho State; a gut-check loss Utah State won't soon forget. McCae Hillstead was responsible for 12 of Utah State's points; there was not enough behind him.
Discussion
Weigh in on the analysis — the best takes rise to the top.
0 Replies
Sign in to join the discussion.