Since it was Senior Day, it was only fitting that a senior scored the game-winning touchdown.
Idaho running back Elijhaa Penny bulldozed his way into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:02 left in the game, giving the Vandals a 38-31 lead and eventually the win against Texas State Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.
Idaho safety Russell Siavii sealed the game for the Vandals by intercepting Texas State quarterback Tyler Jones’ pass with 10 seconds left in the game.
Penny said it was his first game-winning touchdown of his career.
“I was just being patient,” Penny said. “I was just letting (senior fullback) Jake (Manley) do his thing, get to his blocker. I had a little lane so I just put my foot in the ground and I just made the best of Jake Manley’s block.”
Penny carried the ball 25 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Penny’s game-winning touchdown run was set up by a one-handed, 37-yard reception by Idaho junior Deon Watson. Idaho sophomore quarterback Matt Linehan threw the ball to Watson’s back shoulder near the sideline and Watson made the catch with his right hand and fell forward to the Texas State 2-yard line.
Idaho junior wide receiver Callen Hightower also made a one-handed catch earlier in the game.
“I loved seeing that, especially at that point in the game,” Hightower said of Watson’s catch. “It was just great. It gave me the chills for a second and we turned around and scored with it so that was great.”
Watson and Hightower each had more than 100 yards receiving. Hightower hauled in nine passes for 128 yards and Watson made five receptions for 124 yards with two touchdowns.
“Those two guys make plays for me all year and it’s just one of those trust things and we’ve been working a lot together in practice, getting a lot of reps with each other,” Linehan said. “I trust him. I trust Deon to just go up and get it. Those two guys are playmakers and they’ve done it their whole lives and they’re going to continue to do it for us in the future.”
Linehan completed 21 of 31 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
“He really was on fire,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “He did a great job. He was accurate, stepped up and ran when he had to, stood in the pocket, just really played well for us today. It was great to see him just go out there and compete and grind us out a win.”
With the game tied at 24 in the third quarter, Texas State was threatening to take the lead.
But the Vandal defense held its ground near the goal line.
On 4th and goal from the Idaho 1, Texas State running back Tyler Siudzinski failed to get outside the Vandal defense as linebackers Marc Millan and Ed Hall dropped Siudzinski for a four-yard loss.
The Idaho offense took over at its own 5 with 7:17 left in the third quarter and capped an 18-play, 95-yard drive with a touchdown to take a 31-24 lead. Linehan connected with Watson for a 5-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to end the drive that lasted 7:21.
The Vandals finished the season 4-8 overall and 3-5 in Sun Belt Conference play. Idaho won one game each of the last three seasons.
“It’s just a great step forward for this program,” Petrino said. “We’ve all known it. We’ve known it inside this building. We see it every day. We know how much we’ve improved.”
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected]