Deshaun Buchanan had a career game on Saturday. 212 yards 2 TDs and got a win for his team.
The Vandals started the game with the ball and after picking up one successful first down they were held to a three-n-out and punted it back to the Vikings. However, the PSU returner muffed the punt return and Idaho recovered, giving them the ball back on the Viking 24-yard line. Four plays later, UI scored on a trick play where running back Art Williams took the direct snap and ran up the gut for a seven-yard touchdown for the first score of the afternoon.
The Vikings’ first drive of the game following the Vandal touchdown was 11-plays for 70 yards which ended with a one-yard run into the endzone by PSU running back Delon Thompson, tying the game 7-7.
The Vandals then began their second drive. Taking six plays, 75 yards and not even three minutes and capped off the drive with a touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Wagner to receiver Jordan Dwyer.
The Vikings then responded with a long drive, using up the remaining minute of the first quarter and the first six and a half minutes of the second and tied the game up at 14-14 as quarterback Dante Chachere threw a 20-yard pass into the endzone to sophomore Quincy Craig.
The Vandals next drive halted after just four plays and 99 seconds. Coach Jason Eck decided to go for it on fourth down near midfield, however it failed as Wagner was stuffed.
The Vikings took over at the Vandal 44-yard line. In three plays and 72 seconds, Chachere threw another touchdown pass to receiver Branden Alvarez to take their first lead of the game at 21-14.
The Vandals were able to answer on the next, tying the game 21-21 as UI running back Deshaun Buchanan ran 22 yards into the endzone.
The Vandals stopped the Vikings on PSU’s following drive to get the ball back late in the first half. They drove downfield, taking up eight plays, 69 yards and one minute exactly. Buchanan ran 13 yards into the endzone for the touchdown and UI retook the lead 28-21 with 42 seconds to go. PSU got the ball back but just ran out the clock to send the game to the half.
The Vikings got the football to start the second half. They went 48 yards in just about five minutes. 10 plays which included a fourth down conversion, but they were eventually held to a field goal attempt which Mathias Uribe made from 44 yards out, cutting the Vandal lead to four.
The Vandals next drive went downfield. 10 plays and 60 yards but just over four minutes they were also held to a field goal from 25 yards. Kicker Cameron Pope made it, and UI was back up seven 31-24.
The next PSU drive went into the redzone (which is inside the 20-yard line) but once again were held to a field goal. Taking up the remaining six minutes of the third and first 49 seconds of the fourth, Uribe hit from 27 and the Vikings cut the deficit to 31-27.
The Vandals then drove down the field, and after nine plays and 59 yards, they were held to a 43-yard field goal however, Pope missed it, and PSU took over at their own 33-yard line. They were forced to punt but as the ball was coming down it hit the back of Idaho LB Jaxton Eck and the Vikings recovered at the UI 25-yard line.
From there, the Vikings could not do much more and an unsportsmanlike penalty backed them up 15 yards and they ended up settling for a field goal which Uribe hit from 48 yards, and it was a one-point game. The Vandals’ lead was just 31-30 with just over five minutes left.
The Vandals, trying to milk as much clock as possible and put the game away, went on an 8-play drive using just over three minutes. Williams ran three yards into the endzone, and UI was back up seven. On the extra-point attempt the Vikings received a penalty and thus the ball was moved half the distance to the goal line for a second attempt. Eck decided to go for the two-point conversion and once again Williams took the direct snap and ran it in to seal the win at 39-30.
The Vandals held on late and got a major conference win to keep their hopes for an FCS playoff first round bye alive. They improved to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Sky.
Coach Jason Eck said after the game. “Hard fought win. There were some moments that weren’t pretty, but we found a way and I love the way we kept battling to get the win” he said. Vandals had 462 yards of total offense and 205 yards passing. PSU had 314 overall yards and 180 in the air.
A big part of the Vandals’ victory was the huge contribution from running back Deshaun Buchanan. Buchanan ran for 212 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. He also had one reception for seven yards. “It’s really just a mix of just opportunity, preparation and O-line being able to block with receivers blocking downfield.” said Buchannon when asked about his ability to be effective on the ground this game
Vandals have two more games in the regular season and next week will be their home finale against the Weber State Wildcats. When asked about how to prepare for the end of the season, Keyshawn James-Newby had this to say: “Practice hard, work hard man. Endure practice and be able to endure finishing parts of the season.”
Idaho and Weber State will kick off in the Kibbie Dome at 5 p.m. Stream it on ESPN+ or purchase tickets here.
You can reach Jackson Hamelund at [email protected]