Nov. 2, 2002
Box Score
Portland, OR---Mike Cajal-Willis kicked a 20-yard field goal with no time left to give the #15 Portland State Vikings a 27-24 over the 19th ranked Idaho State Bengals, a win that kept PSU's playoffs hopes alive, and put a damper on ISU's.
The winning drive was necessitated after Jeremy Hershey hit a 33-yard field goal with 1:57 remaining in the game to tie it at 24-24. PSU started their final drive at their own 20, and quickly faced a third down. Joe Rubin, one of two backs for PSU to rush for 100 yards in the game, got to the 38-yard line before appearing to be stripped by Eric Boose. Mike Rose recovered the fumble with a 1:33 left and appeared to score the go-ahead touchdown, but Rubin was whistled down. Television replays later showed the play to be a fumble.
Juston Wood then hit Levin on a 35-yard pass to the ISU 27, and Rubin rushed to the three. Three plays later, Cajal-Willis' field goal ended the game.
Portland State improves to 6-3, 3-2 in the Big Sky, and ISU is now 5-3, 4-2. For ISU to make the playoffs, they must win out and have either Portland State lose once (they play at Weber State and at Montana State) or hope the committee takes a third team from the Big Sky.
The Bengals were in a position to tie the game with Hershey's kick after a Doug Baughman's third touchdown pass, a 3-yarder to Brett Fowler with 47 seconds left in the third.
The backbreaker may have come at the end of the first half. After a 10-yard touchdown catch by Jeff Davenport made it 17-14 with 34 seconds left, two players got into a scuffle on the ensuing kickoff, and ISU drew a 15-yard penalty, giving the Vikings life at their 37. After an incompletion, ISU's bench was hit with another personal foul, and the ball was moved into ISU territory. Two plays later Jesse Levin's catch at the back of the end zone made it 24-14 with just 10 seconds left in the half.
Idaho State opened the game well, driving the length of the field with the opening kickoff. The Bengals reeled off a 16-play drive covering 78 yards, a drive in which they converted four third downs.
Jermain Anderson's leaping one-handed catch in the end zone gave ISU a 7-0 lead. However, a three special teams mistakes proved costly and let Portland State into the game. The first came when, with the Vikings punting from their 2-yard line, Emery Beckles fumbled at the PSU 28, which Portland State recovered at their 22. That led to a 78-yard drive and a 7-7 tie.
On the next possession, the Bengals lined up to punt from the PSU 42, but a low snap was bobbled by Eddie Johnson. It was picked up by Erik Selden and eventually resulted in a field goal and a 10-7 lead.
With the game 17-7, a low snap foiled a 53-yard field goal attempt by Jeremy Hershey.
