Lewiston Bengals Beat Pocatello in State Playoff
Lewiston snapped an 11-year drought in Idaho Class 5A state playoff wins with a 31-13 first-round victory over Pocatello.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
The fifth-seeded Lewiston Bengals defeated the 12th-seeded Pocatello Thunder 31-13 in the first round of the Idaho Class 5A state tournament at P1FCU Stadium at Lewiston High. The win broke an 11-year state playoff win drought and improved Lewiston to 5-5.
Why it matters
The victory ends a long stretch without a state playoff win for Lewiston, a program that last won in the postseason in 2015 against Meridian. It also keeps the Bengals' season alive as they prepare for a road rematch with Lakeland of Rathdrum.
Lewiston quarterback Dallas Richardson completed 18 of 26 passes for 264 yards, while junior running back Junior Moody carried 22 times for 83 yards and three touchdowns. Pocatello quarterback Rhev Stucki threw four interceptions on 18-of-26 passing for 159 yards, and the Thunder managed just 38 rushing yards as a team.
The players
Lewiston Bengals
The Lewiston High School football program, which compete in Idaho's Class 5A classification and advanced in the state tournament after breaking a long postseason win drought.
Pocatello Thunder
The Pocatello High School football program, a 12th-seeded Idaho Class 5A team whose season ended with the first-round loss to Lewiston.
Dallas Richardson
Lewiston's starting quarterback, whose 18-of-26, 264-yard passing performance led the Bengals' offense in the state playoff win.
The details
Lewiston's defensive front disrupted Pocatello's timing and flushed quarterback Rhev Stucki out of the pocket throughout the game. The Bengals' passing game moved the chains while the running game finished drives, a balance built around attacking the middle of the field with chunk plays identified on film.
Timeline
2015: Lewiston's last state playoff win, a victory over Meridian.
Oct. 9: Lakeland defeated Lewiston 21-14 at P1FCU Stadium.
Saturday: Lewiston defeated Pocatello 31-13 in the Idaho Class 5A state tournament first round.
Next week: Lewiston faces Lakeland of Rathdrum in a road rematch.
Season Trajectory
The win extends Lewiston's season beyond the first round for the first time since its 2015 state playoff victory over Meridian, a gap of 11 years. It keeps the Bengals in contention in the Idaho Class 5A tournament as they move toward a road rematch with Lakeland of Rathdrum.
The Bengals' next game is a road rematch with Lakeland, which beat Lewiston 21-14 on Oct. 9. Fans tracking the state tournament bracket should watch how the Bengals' passing and running game balance holds up away from home.
The takeaway
Lewiston's balanced offense, led by Dallas Richardson's passing and Junior Moody's running, produced the state playoff win that ended an 11-year drought. The Bengals' ability to replicate that balance on the road will determine how far the program advances in the Idaho Class 5A tournament.
What happens next
Lewiston faces Lakeland of Rathdrum in a road rematch next week in the Idaho Class 5A state tournament.
Further reading
Find more Lewiston high school coverage in our Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
