POCATELLO - Before facing Portland State last week, Idaho State head coach John Zamberlin said the goal for the team is to get a winning record for the season.

Consider Step 1 on that road accomplished as the Bengals (3-4, 2-3 Big Sky Conference) used two fumble returns for touchdowns on consecutive possessions to fuel a 38-20 win over the Vikings.

Now comes another step on that road as another high-powered offense comes to Holt Arena today (3 p.m.) in the form of the Cal Poly Mustangs. Zamberlin knows this one isn't going to be easy.

"It's going to be a challenge. They're averaging almost 500 yards in total offense per game and the quarterback has thrown 18 touchdowns against one interception," said Zamberlin.

The ISU coach has his facts straight. The Mustangs are No. 2 in the country in Division I-AA, totaling 494 yards per game. They average 39 points and the quarterback with the 18-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is Jonathan Dally.

His top target is wideout Ramses Barden who has caught 12 touchdowns and is averaging 26 and a half yards per catch.

Dally is a dual threat. Running out of the option offense, he's also rushed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns. In fact the Mustangs run like their animal counterpart, picking up 280 yards per game. They have five backs, including Dally, with more than 250 rushing yards.

"The hard part about preparing for them is that you can't really recreate the option they run. In practice the guys just can't simulate the same speed these guys have."

But Cal Poly isn't invincible. On the season they are 4-3, including a loss to Idaho. Their achilles heel may be their defense which is allowing 27 points a game. That's surprising considering the last three straight Buchanan Award winners have come from the school. The Buchanan Award is given to the top defensive player in Division I-AA football.

With the resurgence that came from the Bengal offense in the second half of last week's game - ISU scored three offensive touchdowns after the fumble returns - this may be a better game then at first anticipated.