POCATELLO, Idaho – Simon Fraser University opened the 2016 football season losing 47-3 to NCAA Division I Idaho State Saturday afternoon at Holt Arena.
The Bengals, which compete in the Big Sky Conference and has games the next two weekends against Colorado and Oregon State, tallied 543 yards of total offense while holding Simon Fraser to 233.
The Idaho State defense forced Simon Fraser into nine punts, three turnovers and one safety.
The Bengals scored on their first possession when QB Tanner Gueller hit KW Williams on a 37-yard strike two and a half minutes into the game. But the Clan hung with the Bengals in the first quarter, and despite back-up place kicker, freshman Colin Cossette, missing a 31-yard field goal, trailed just 7-0 after the first quarter.
The Bengals added 19 second quarter points to lead 26-0 at the break and never looked back.
“I was most pleased with the grit and determination our kids displayed today,” said Clan head coach Kelly Bates. “Their effort never faded. The experience our young players received by playing in a game of this magnitude will only serve to make us much better in the future.”
ISU scored a touchdown in the third quarter and two more in the fourth. Simon Fraser scored a field goal with 5:16 left in the third when Chad Heerspink connected on a 22-yarder.
Several bright spots emerged for the Clan in the first game of the season. Sophomore starting quarterback Miles Richardson, a transfer from Eastern Washington via Pima JC, threw for 255 yards while completing 21 passes on 44 attempts.
“Miles proved to have a very accurate arm and had a very nice ability to extend plays with his feet in a positive manner,” said Bates.
Richardson made plays to six different receivers, with freshman Gavin Cobb hauling in five catches for 76-yards in his NCAA debut. Sophomore J.J. DesLauriers grabbed five passes for 53-yards.
The Clan was unable to establish a running game against the Bengals’ big defensive line. The Clan was held to -22 yards rushing.
“It was obvious at points tonight, especially when injuries started to mount with key players, that we are a team that lacks depth,” said Bates, entering his second season with the Clan. “That is part of the building process but that takes time in the NCAA.”
Gueller threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns while completing 24 passes on 36 attempts for the Bengals. ISU was led by Williams, who caught four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns and running back Jakori Ford, who rushed for 68 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown
Nine different receivers caught passes for the Bengals and five different running backs had carries.
Defensively for SFU, senior linebacker Jordan Herdman led all players with 20 tackles; including nine solo and 11 assisted, while DB’s Jake Oram and Ben Minaker each had 10.
The Clan lost 66-14 to ISU in 2014.
Simon Fraser plays at Texas A&M University – Kingsville next weekend before returning home for its home opener on Sept. 17 (6:00 PM) at Swangard Stadium against nationally ranked Humboldt State.
The Clan’s Homecoming game is scheduled for Oct. 1 (6:00 PM) on campus at Terry Fox Field.
| Game Stats | SFU | ISU |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 11 | 29 |
| Total Offensive Yards | 233 | 543 |
| Passing Yards | 255 | 378 |
| Rushing Yards | -22 | 165 |
| Penalty Yards | 6-49 | 7-80 |
| 3rd Downs | 4-18 | 6-14 |
| 4th Downs | 0-1 | 2-3 |
| Time Of Possession | 29:38 | 26:47 |
| 1st Quarter | SFU | ISU |
 12:32 – ISU – KW Williams 37 yd pass from Tanner Gueller (Zak Johnson kick ) 4 plays, 58 yards, TOP 1:19 |
0
|
7
|
| 2nd Quarter | SFU | ISU |
|
12:47 – ISU – Jakori Ford 11 yd run (Zak Johnson kick ), 7 plays, 98 yards, TOP 2:22 |
0
|
14
|
|
07:43 – ISU – TEAM 4 yd safety |
0
|
16
|
|
06:17 – ISU – Zak Johnson 34 yd field goal 5 plays, 16 yards, TOP 1:19 |
0
|
19
|
|
03:18 – ISU – Pat Carter 29 yd pass from Tanner Gueller (Zak Johnson kick ) 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:18 |
0
|
26
|
| 3rd Quarter | SFU | ISU |
|
13:51 – ISU – KW Williams 63 yd pass from Tanner Gueller (Zak Johnson kick ) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:09 |
0
|
33
|
 05:16 – SFU – Heerspink 22 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 2:10 |
3
|
33
|
| 4th Quarter | SFU | ISU |
|
09:49 – ISU – Tom Jewell 0 yd fumble recovery (Zak Johnson kick ) |
3
|
40
|
|
05:50 – ISU – Michael Dean 15 yd run (Zak Johnson kick ), 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:19 |
3
|
47
|
–@SFUClan–
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