It was a game that couldn’t have personified the season at large for the Vandals any better. The constant back and forth that left the crowd in a continuous state of excitement was something that fans of both teams have seen almost too much this year. Sadly for the Vandals, it ended like many of their games in 2011, on the losing end of a 49-42 game against Utah State that ended in double overtime this past Saturday in the Kibbie Dome on Senior Day.
“Exciting,” said Coach Robb Akey in a post game press conference. “Terrible ending.”
After watching the first half of this game, it didn’t look like the Vandals were going to be close and a potential blow out was in the making. Despite entering the second quarter tied 7-7 with Utah State after QB Brian Reader hit WR Mike Scott with a 13 yard pass to draw the game even, the wheels fell off a bit for Idaho. Utah State opened the quarter with 14 unanswered points as QB Adam Kennedy hit WR Travis Van Leeuwn on a three yard pass and RB Robert Turbin took an 80 yard carry to the house to give USU the 21-7. Idaho would respond before the end of the half with a 23 yard field goal from Trey Farquhar to make it 21-10.
We can only assume that Coach Akey gave one of the greatest half-time pep talks ever known to man, cause Idaho came out fired up in the second half and it showed in the big way. Following another Farquhar field goal to open the half, S Quin Ashley got the crowd back into the game, scoring on a 78 yard interception return for a touchdown. Following a successful two-point conversion, the game was tied at 21-21.
This tie wouldn’t last very long as a miscue by the Idaho secondary allowed USU WR Stanley Morrison to score a 63 yard touchdown on a pass from Kennedy to give USU the seven point edge. Idaho answered right back with a one yard touchdown run by Korey Toomer. This theme would continue the rest of the game, leading to the first and then second overtime.
In the second and final overtime, USU started off with the ball. Doing what they had done best all game, USU turned to Turbin, who had became the first back since 2009 to rush for 200+ yards against the Vandals, and watched him scored from two yards out to make it 49-42. Turbin ended the day with 208 yards and three touchdowns.
With some help from WR Daniel Micheletti and RB Kama Bailey, Idaho managed to drive the ball down to the USU 2. Following a near lost fumble and a five yard delay of game penalty, the Vandals were in position to score. On fourth and eight, Reader dropped back for the pass, only to see the ball sail into the hands of USU’s Bobby Wagner. The loss was the fifth game of the season for Idaho that was decided by seven or less points.
“We were awful close to pulling that off,” Akey said. “It was an exciting football game but with an ending that wasn’t worth a darn. Those two teams played their hearts out out there. We needed to play a little better; make one more play”
“We were just one the wrong end of the shootout,” said QB Brian Reader, whose 275 yards on 27 of 39 passing was his best yardage game of the year.
“We came out. We fought hard,” Toomer said. “It hurt.”
Even in the loss, the Vandals had a lot to be proud of. Toomer, who commonly plays defense, scored three rushing touchdowns, which was the most by a Vandal back since DeMaundray Woolridge rushed for four in 2009. RB Kama Bailey led Idaho in rushing with 110 yards while WR Michael LaGrone led all receivers with 63 yards.
On defense, senior linebacker Tre`Shawn Robinson had 20 total tackles and one forced fumble. Ashley also reached double digits with 10 to go along with his interception return and junior safety Gary Walker had 12.
Idaho, now 2-9, will have the upcoming week off before finishing up the 2011 season with a trip to Nevada.
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