POCATELLO - The focus of the Idaho State Bengals is divided today. On one hand, the Bengals (0-8, 0-5 Big Sky Conference) aim to snap a 20-game road losing streak as they visit league foe Montana State. But ISU's players will also be thinking about freshman teammate Andrew Benavides.

Benavides suffered a ruptured disk in his neck and spinal cord swelling after being tackled in the loss at Northern Arizona last week. He reported some feeling below the waist and doctorsbelieve he'll be able to resume a normal life. Playing football again is another matter that only time will answer. ISU head coach John Zamberlin and the players are trying to remain positive.

"These guys are my kids," he said. "It's doubly hard when it's one of your guys, especially somebody that you brought in and you were in his living room and you sat down with his parents and talked about things."

Benavides was hurt when he landed on his head after being tackled at the end of a 73-yard kick return.

Zamberlin admitted it might be tough for some players to return to football with all the issues surrounding Benavides, but he added that it could give his team motivation when facing the Bobcats (4-3,2-2).

"He's one of our fallen warriors, so we need to step up and honor him and go out and play hard," said Zamberlin. "That's what he would do and that's what he would expect us to do."

Zamberlin said Montana State's will present a challenge in today's 1:30 p.m. kickoff on Altitude.

"They're really difficult to run against. If you are going to get to them you probably have to do it through the air," he said. "They allowed over 500 yards of offense in their loss to Eastern Washington, but not a lot of that came on the ground."

Montana State has two straight conference losses and is fighting to keep its FCS playoff hopes alive. Bobcat quarterback Cody Kempt said his team's mentality must change.

"I think we've got to start playing with a chip on our shoulder," said Kempt. "We've got to start playing angry. These next four games we have to win out, and definitely (there's a) lot of frustration, a lot of anger built up inside. We just have to come out every week and play like it's a championship game. These next four weeks have to be the championship game for us. They're must-win games. "

The Bobcats played their game at Eastern Washington with eight starters missing because of the flu. All are expected to suit up today against ISU.