The Idaho football team reached six wins this season against Texas State Saturday, making the Vandals bowl eligible for the first time since 2009.
“It was all gas and no breaks,” senior tight end Trent Cowan said in a press conference. “It was a lot of fun.”
Idaho (6-4, 4-2) gave up 14 points in the first quarter, but kept the Bobcats (2-7, 0-5) from scoring for the rest of the game to win 47-14.
Texas State scored first after an Idaho punt led to a 1-yard touchdown run by tailback Stedman Mayberry.
Idaho fought back with a quick three-minute scoring drive. Senior tight end Deon Watson hauled in a 57-yard pass on a wheel route to the left on the first play. Cowan scored the touchdown on a wide-open 6 yard pass in the end zone.
It took Texas State three plays to respond. Mayberry put the Bobcats in position to score off a 28-yard reception. Quarterback Tyler Jones delivered a deep strike to receiver Thurman Morbley in the end zone.
Idaho head coach Paul Petrino broke out some creative play calling on the next drive.
Senior defensive lineman Tueni Lupeamanu lined up as a fullback and muscled his way into the end zone on a one-yard run, tying the game at 14. It was the first touchdown of Lupeamanu’s collegiate career.
Freshman running back Denzal Brantley scored again for Idaho after junior quarterback Matt Linehan snuck a 25-yard pass to Cowan.
Sophomore running back Isaiah Saunders broke through the Bobcats’ front line and dashed 24 yards for another Vandal touchdown late in the second quarter.
Senior kicker Austin Rehkow put up three points on a 25-yard field goal. At the half, Idaho led Texas State 31-14.
Linehan picked up his first rushing touchdown of the game on a 10-yard scramble. He dove for the left pylon with his arms fully extended seconds before the Bobcats could catch him.
The Vandal defense came up with a turnover on the next drive. Jones tried to pick up a few yards but senior defensive lineman Kevin Shelton ripped the ball out and junior defensive end Aikeem Coleman recovered on the Bobcats’ 44-yard line.
Offensive mistakes plagued Texas State. On the Bobcats’ next drive, the opening snap flew over Jones’ head and bounced through the end zone, resulting in a safety.
Idaho ran six minutes off the clock but could not score. Rehkow’s punt was swatted down and cornerback Dila Rosemond ran it into the end zone. An illegal block by the Bobcats negated the score.
Lupeamnu scored his second touchdown as a fullback on another goal-line push for the last touchdown of the game.
“Coach gave me the chance to score,” Lupeamanu said. “I knew we were going to call that at least once.”
Along with his two rushing touchdowns, Lupeamanu had four total tackles and two sacks for a combined loss of 15 yards.
Linehan finished with 336 yards and a 79 percent completion rate. Idaho gained 154 yards on the ground, led by Saunders.
The win was a sloppy one for Idaho, as the Vandals committed 14 penalties for 103 yards.
“They came through a lot,” Petrino said. “But they stayed focused and kept fighting.”
Idaho returns to Moscow for the remaining two games of the season. The Vandals kick off against South Alabama 12:30 p.m. Nov. 26 in the Kibbie Dome.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brandonmtnhill