Clint Knickrehm ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner with 32 seconds remaining as Idaho State beat Portland State 41-34 on Saturday in Pocatello, Idaho, to end its 10-game losing streak.
This is the second consecutive year the Bengals (1-10, 1-7 Big Sky) have avoided a winless season with a victory in their finale. Last year they beat Sacramento State in overtime after starting 0-11.
Knickrehm’s scoring run in the final seconds was set up by a 45-yard pass from Russel Hill to Hudson’s Bay High School graduate J.D. Ponciano to the Vikings’ 1-yard line one play earlier. The TD capped a six-play, 80-yard drive.
Justin Engstrom rushed for a score and threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns for Portland State (2-9, 1-7).
Eastern Washington 41, at Southern Utah 28 — Matt Nichols threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles rolled up 608 yards in offense to put away the Thunderbirds. Nichols, who had a 52-yard touchdown run on a draw play, accounted for 455 yards of total offense to become the Big Sky Conference’s all-time leader (12,440 yards). Nathan Overbay caught three touchdown passes for EWU (7-3).
At Linfield 62, Pacific Lutheran 44 — Aaron Boehme was 24 of 29 for 374 yards and five touchdowns in just more than a half as the Northwest Conference champion Wildcats capped an undefeated regular season.
At Lewis & Clark 30, Puget Sound 27 — Tucker Lawrence ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and Chris Kelly returned a fumble 91 yards for the clinching score as the Pioneers claimed their first NWC win in six seasons. The Loggers completed a winless season.
