Sellout crowd expected as Idaho visits resurgent ISU

Winning, and Idaho State football, have not been synonymous — at least in recent years.

The Bengals have had just one winning season in the past 15 years — in 2014, when the Bengals went 8-4 and lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

Aside from that, their season results are dotted with a lot of 2-9s and 1-10s and the like.

So this year, with Idaho State off to a 3-1 start — the Bengals’ best start since 2005 — there’s a natural excitement in Pocatello.

And, oh by the way, the Idaho Vandals (2-2, 1-1 Big Sky) are coming to town for the first time since 1997, for a Big Sky Conference game with the Bengals (2-0 Big Sky) this afternoon at Holt Arena.

ISU is expecting its first sellout at Holt, which seats roughly 12,000, since 1984.

“I think they’re playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said of ISU.

Idaho State was picked to finish 12th by the coaches, 10th by the media, in the 13-team Big Sky. But the Bengals are playing much better than that, led by quarterback Tanner Gueller, his brother and wide receiver Mitch Gueller, and running back James Madison.

Tanner Gueller has passed for 864 yards and four touchdowns this season, with four interceptions. He’s fourth all-time in passing yards at ISU. Mitch Gueller has 17 catches, three for touchdowns, and averages 23.6 yards per catch. Madison has rushed for 429 yards and seven touchdowns.

“They got a quarterback that’s played a whole bunch of football,” Petrino said. “Any time you’ve got a quarteback that’s started that many games, and played that many years in a row, that gives you a chance to be really good. He’s got his brother to throw to, they have really a nice connection, obviously. And they got the big running back — James Madison is running as good as anybody. You have to defend the pass and the run.”

Petrino said the Bengals’ offensive line is physical, and “a little nasty.” He said linebacker Kody Graves is “a heckuva player. He runs around and makes a whole bunch of plays. His interceptions again North Dakota and Northern Arizona were both big plays.”

Idaho is back in the Big Sky in football for the first time since the 1995 season.

ISU is encouraging its fans to “stripe the stadium,” wearing either orange or black, depending on the section they’re sitting in.