POCATELLO, Idaho – Oct. 18 - Ammon Olsen broke almost every offensive passing record at SUU, but the Thunderbirds (1-7, 1-3 Big Sky) fall to the Bengals (4-3, 2-1 Big Sky), 56-28 in Holt Arena.
Offensively, both teams had success early through the air. ISU scored the first points of the game as Xavier Finney ran the ball in from 1-yard out to put the Bengals ahead by seven points. The Thunderbirds answered quickly as Ammon Olsen connected with Chris Robinson for a 79-yard touchdown catch. This is the second week in a row that they have connected for a 70-plus yard touchdown.
The score would remain 7-7 until the first play of the second quarter where Xavier Finney of ISU would punch it in again from one-yard out to make it 14-7, Bengals. After a defensive stop by ISU, they drove the ball through the air for another score to make it 21-7, early in the second quarter. The Thunderbirds would respond with a great drive, culminating in a touchdown pass by Ammon Olsen to Malik Brown to bring the Thunderbirds back within seven. After exchanging touchdowns, the Bengals scored point number 35 of the first half on a 16-yard run and the half would end with the Bengals leading, 35-21.
The third quarter was all about defense for the Thunderbirds allowing zero points after giving up 28 points in the second. SUU was the first to score in the second half as Mitch Jessop hauled in a touchdown pass from Olsen to make it a one-touchdown lead for ISU.
The Bengals came out firing in the fourth quarter as Justin Arias completes his first pass attempt of the quarter to put the Bengals up again by two touchdowns, 42-28. They followed that touchdown with another passing score from Arias to Cook to put the Bengals up for good.
Win-Loss:
The Thunderbirds move to 1-7 on the year and 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference. With just four conference games left in this season, SUU will look to turn things around next week as they host North Dakota at home.
Records Broken:
Ammon Olsen Most Passing Yards (1st)
Most Passing Attempts (1st)
Most Completions (T-1st)
Total Plays (1st)
Total Yards (1st)
Chris Robinson Most Receiving Yards (T-7th)
Top Performers:
Ammon Olsen finished the game 38-65 for 528 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Chris Robinson led all receivers with nine catches for 191 yards and one touchdown.
Mitch Jessop had eight catches for 106 yards and one touchdown.
Chinedu Ahanonu totaled 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
James Cowser had 5 total tackles including two sacks and two tackles for loss.
