Sept. 16, 2006
Final Stats
Moscow, ID --- The Idaho Vandals scored a late touchdown with 2:27 remaining to thwart an Idaho State comeback, taking down the Bengals 27-24 in Moscow, putting both teams at 1-2 on the season.
After the late touchdown, Matt Gutierrez quickly drove ISU into Vandal territory, where he scored with 51 seconds left to cut the lead to 27-24, but Idaho recovered the onside kick and took two knees the end the game.
The late score came after a quick three-play 89 yard drive the ended in an Akilah Lacey 18 yard touchdown. Lacye started the drive with a 46-yard catch on a flea-flicker. That score made it 20-17 with 6:11 left, but the Vandals went 80 plays for the eventual clinching touchdown.
Down 20-10 in the fourth, the Bengals missed an opportunity when Dan Zeidman's 40-yard field goal was pushed just right from the left hash mark.
The Bengals and Vandals basically played even except for a a six minute stretch of the second quarter, when Idaho took a commanding lead, bolting out to a 17-3 lead with a pair of touchdowns within four minutes of each other, both short runs by Rolly Lumbala. The first was set up by a 35-yard completion to the ISU 15 on third down on a nice grab by Wendell Octave. The second was set up by a Reggie Jones interception on a pass that was well short of intended receiver Akilah Lacey, as quarterback Matt Gutierrez was hit right as he threw the ball.
However, ISU responded with a key 72-yard drive to score on a Gutierrez 23-yard pass to Dane Simmons with six seconds left in the half.
NOTES: An Idaho State fumble recovery by Sterling Mennear was overturned by replay, marking the first replay reversal in Idaho State history ... ISU was also tied 3-3 with UNLV, their other I-A game this season, at the end of the first quarter ... ISU hosts Northern Arizona in the conference opener next Saturday for Homecoming ... Josh Barnett, the Big Sky's leading rusher, picked up 94 yards on 19 carries
