James’ 43-yard TD pushes Idaho State over Southern Utah 28-24

CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) — During a thrilling game on Saturday night, Idaho State secured a 28-24 victory over Southern Utah, thanks to a crucial 43-yard touchdown pass by Chedon James in the fourth quarter.

James played a pivotal role in the game, catching seven passes for 134 yards and ultimately scoring the winning touchdown. The Bengals (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky Conference), led by Jordan Cooke, were in control at halftime with a 10-7 lead. Cooke completed 15 of 25 passes for 203 yards, throwing two touchdowns and an interception.

The Bengals extended their lead to 21-10 by the third quarter, thanks to Kai Wheeler's 2-yard touchdown catch and Cooke's ground touchdown. However, Southern Utah (1-4, 0-2) managed to narrow the gap, as Floyd Chalk and Will Burns each scored rushing touchdowns, bringing the score to 24-21 in favor of Idaho State.

With 7:19 left in the game, Idaho State capitalized on James' 43-yard catch-and-run, which put them ahead again. The defense then sealed the victory with three key stops: a punt, a fumble, and a turnover on downs. Idaho State will face off against Northern Arizona next Saturday, while Southern Utah travels to Utah Tech for their next game.