Pocatello, ID --- In a spring that showed a lot of positives on both sides of the ball, the biggest positive continues to be the maturation of sophomore-to-be quarterback Russel Hill, who led two long scoring drives to pace the offense in Idaho State’s second scrimmage of the spring.

The two long touchdown drives highlighted the 55-play scrimmage.  Hill opened the day with the number one offense backed up on their own three-yard line, and Hill calmly completed three-of-four passes on the drive, moving ISU into scoring territory at the 40-yard line.  From there, receiver Edsel Logan scored on a rush from 40-yards out, giving the Bengals a 97-yard touchdown drive.

The defense rose up from there, holding the next three drives to punts with backups Kyle Blum and Evan Mozzochi under center.  After a special teams period, Hill came out for a second series starting at his own 45-yard line, and on 3^rd-and-8 from the 37, Hill bootlegged left, stopped, set, and fired a perfect 37-yard touchdown strike to Isaiah Burel for a second score.  The catch was the final one of the day for Burel, who led everyone with four grabs for 71 yards.

Kyle Blum also had success from the 45-yard line, leading ISU to a field goal opportunity, driving the Bengals to the 9-yard line, a drive that saw Blum convert two third downs, one on the ground on his own, and one to Angelo McGee on a nice diving catch.

While the offense rose to the occasion when in the shadow of their own goal line, the defense likewise did the same, not allowing a touchdown on five drives that starting at the 30-yard line going in.  The first three drives ended on three-and-outs, as the defense allowed -2 yards over those three drives.  The final two drives ended in field goals by Mike Ramos, who bounced back nicely from the first scrimmage, hitting an extra point and three field goals before having his final one blocked.

While ISU’s quarterbacks played well, the stats show the struggled a little, combining to go 12-for-25 for 112 yards with a touchdown (by Hill) and an interception (by Blum).  The running game was done by committee, and that committee was solid the entire day, rushing for 217 yards on 30 carries.  Walk-on Idaho Falls native Ben LaPorta starred on the day, rushing five times for 68 yards, including all three carries on a 55-yard touchdown drive, a drive he finished by bouncing outside for a 34-yard score.

Ken Cornist rushed for 51 yards on seven carries, showing good upfield speed.  Kenyon Blue added 36 yards on seven carries, Joe Strayhand had 23 yards on three rushes, and Jesse Hofhine rushed for 14 yards on three carries.  Two receivers got in on the act as well, as Edsel Logan rushed once for 40 yards and a touchdown, and Jaron Taylor had one rush for six yards.

Defensively, Keith Goins, Jr. was solid with eight tackles to lead everyone.  He also picked up the only turnover on the day with a diving interception of Kyle Blum.  Jeremy Gibson, Brad Rife, Mike Jablonsky, and Josh Crittenden all recorded sacks.  Along with Goins’ eight tackles, Nic Edgson had five, and Phillip Arias, Gibson, and Scot Allen each had four.

The Bengals will have one more week of practice on Tuesday and Thursday before playing their annual Spring Game on Friday night at 6:00 pm in Holt Arena.

NOTES:  The Bengal coaching staff and about 30 players will be at the Idaho Food Bank on the corner of 2^nd and Terry on Monday night to help sack potatoes for needy families, and the media is encouraged to attend as the players are available for interviews at that time … Jon Vanderweilen, who is expected to take over for Dan Zeidman as the team’s punter, averaged 43.0 yards on his six punts, and he hit one 50-yarder with the wind, and one against it as well.

Passing (Overall Spring Stats)

Russel Hill 5-9, 75 yards, 1 TD (17-27, 192 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT)
Preston Kelly 0-0, 0 yards (4-4, 24 yards)
Kyle Blum 6-13, 47 yards, 1 INT (7-17, 49 yards, 1 INT)
Evan Mozzochi 1-3, -10 yards (1-7, -10 yards, 1 INT)
Totals 12-25, 112 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT (29-55, 255 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT)

Receiving
Isaiah Burel 4-71, 1 TD (11-117, 2TD)
Angelo Magee 2-23 (4-30)
Jaron Taylor 2-7 (4-23)

Kenyon Blue 2-0 (2-0)

Kelvin Krosch 1-8 (3-18)

Ryan Anchetta-Major 1-3 (2-9)
Edsel Logan 0-0 (2-32)
Trevor Messersmith 0-0 (2-16)
Tyler Hjelseth 0-0 (1-7)
Jesse Hofhine 0-0 (1-1)

Rushing
Ben Laporta 5-68, 1 TD (11-101, 1 TD)
Ken Cornist 7-51 (13-69, 1 TD)

Edsel Logan 1-40, 1 TD (1-40, 1 TD)
Kenyon Blue 7-36 (10-44)

Joe Strayhand 3-23 (9-38)
Jesse Hofhine 3-14 (8-25)

Jaron Taylor 1-6 (1-6)
Russel Hill 2-(-14) (2- (-14))

Kyle Blum 3-(-17) (4- (-23) )
Kelvin Krosch 0-0 (1-21, 1TD)

Totals 30-217, 2 TD (58-319, 4 TD)

Defensive Stats (Overall Spring Totals)
Sacks: Jeremy Gibson 1, Brad Rife 1, Mike Jablonsky 1, Josh Crittenden 1 (Jeff Tuua 1, Jeremy Gibson 1, Brad Rife 1, Mike Jablonsky 1, Josh Crittenden 1)
Fumble Recoveries: None ( Kelvin Miller 1)
Interceptions: Keither Goins, Jr. 1-0 ( Keith Goins, Jr. 2-20, Chris Holmsely 1-28)

Passes Defended: D.J. Clark 1, Joe Kremer 1, Jeremy Gibson 1 (Ryan Head 2, Ryan Phipps 1, D.J. Clark 1, Joe Kremer 1, Jeremy Gibson 1)