Idaho State Bengals Football: A Season of Gridiron Battles

The Idaho State Bengals football team geared up for the 2025 season as a proud member of the Big Sky Conference, striving for success in the NCAA Division I FCS football landscape. The season was marked by a series of competitive matchups, showcasing the Bengals' resilience and determination on the field.

Early Season Battles

The Bengals kicked off their season with a hard-fought contest against UNLV.

Bengals vs. UNLV

The game against UNLV was a rollercoaster, featuring multiple lead changes and exciting plays. The Bengals started strong, with Trajan Sinatra hitting a 26-yard field goal and Jordan Cooke connecting with Jordan Cooke for a 15-yard touchdown pass. UNLV responded with two rushing touchdowns from Jai'Den Thomas, taking a 14-10 lead. Dason Brooks answered with a 27-yard touchdown run, putting the Bengals back on top. The back-and-forth affair continued, with UNLV regaining the lead, only for Ian Duarte to tie the game with a 64-yard touchdown reception from Jordan Cooke. Ultimately, UNLV prevailed with a final score of 38-31. Key moments included:

Trajan Sinatra's early field goal giving the Bengals an initial lead.
Jordan Cooke's touchdown pass to Jordan Cooke extending the lead.
Dason Brooks' impressive 27-yard touchdown run.
Ian Duarte's game-tying 64-yard touchdown catch.

Bengals vs. Southern Utah

The Bengals faced a tough challenge against Southern Utah (SUU). SUU quickly established a commanding lead, scoring multiple touchdowns and a field goal in the first half. The Bengals struggled to keep pace, with Damien Morgan catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Cooke and Mason Young returning a fumble for a touchdown. Despite these efforts, SUU maintained control, ultimately winning 46-24. Key plays included:

Damien Morgan's touchdown reception from Jordan Cooke.
Mason Young's 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Trajan Sinatra's late field goal.

Bengals vs. New Mexico

The Bengals faced a challenging road game against New Mexico (UNM). UNM took an early lead, but the Bengals battled back, with Trajan Sinatra connecting on multiple field goals and Davis Harsin throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Michael Shulikov. The game remained close throughout, with the lead changing hands several times. Despite Tytan Mason's late touchdown run, UNM ultimately secured the victory with a final score of 32-22. Key moments included:

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Trajan Sinatra's consistent field goal kicking.
Davis Harsin's 30-yard touchdown pass to Michael Shulikov.
Tytan Mason's late touchdown run.

Bengals vs. Northern Colorado

The Bengals faced Northern Colorado (UNCO). Trajan Sinatra kicked multiple field goals, and Jordan Cooke threw a touchdown pass to Tsion Nunnally. Northern Colorado responded with touchdown passes of their own, but the Bengals held on for a 26-18 victory.

Trajan Sinatra's four field goals.
Jordan Cooke's touchdown pass to Tsion Nunnally.

Mid-Season Matchups

Bengals vs. UC Davis

The Bengals faced UC Davis in a thrilling, high-scoring affair. Dason Brooks had a strong performance, with a long touchdown run. Jordan Cooke connected with Tsion Nunnally for a touchdown pass. Aidan Garcia returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. Michael Shulikov caught a touchdown pass from Jordan Cooke. Trajan Sinatra kicked a late field goal to give the Bengals a narrow lead, but UC Davis responded with a field goal of their own, ultimately winning 36-35. Key plays included:

Dason Brooks' long touchdown run.
Jordan Cooke's touchdown pass to Tsion Nunnally.
Aidan Garcia's blocked punt return for a touchdown.
Michael Shulikov's touchdown reception from Jordan Cooke.
Trajan Sinatra's late field goal.

Bengals vs. Cal Poly

The Bengals faced Cal Poly (CP). Jordan Cooke had a strong performance, throwing a touchdown pass to Michael Shulikov and rushing for a touchdown himself. Dason Brooks added a rushing touchdown. Trajan Sinatra kicked multiple field goals. The Bengals secured a 27-17 victory.

Michael Shulikov's touchdown reception from Jordan Cooke.
Jordan Cooke's rushing touchdown.
Dason Brooks' rushing touchdown.
Trajan Sinatra's three field goals.

Roster Highlights

The Idaho State Bengals roster featured a mix of talented players on both offense and defense. Here are some notable players:

Quarterbacks

Jordan Cooke: A junior quarterback known for his arm strength and decision-making.
Logan Gonzalez: A junior quarterback providing depth and experience.
Davis Harsin: A freshman quarterback with potential for future growth.
Wyatt Horton: A freshman quarterback adding to the team's quarterback pool.
Jackson Sharman: A freshman quarterback further strengthening the quarterback position.
Brett Spencer: A sophomore quarterback contributing to the team's quarterback depth.

Running Backs

Dason Brooks: A senior running back known for his power and speed.
Aiden Brown: A freshman running back with potential to develop.
Robert Freeman IV: A junior running back offering versatility and experience.
Zack Homan: A freshman running back looking to make an impact.
Matt Mason: A junior running back adding depth to the position.
Tytan Mason: A freshman running back with potential for future contributions.

Schedule Overview

The Bengals' 2025 football schedule included a mix of home and away games against Big Sky Conference opponents and non-conference foes. The schedule was released in January, with the home opener scheduled for September.

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