After a three-game losing streak in recent weeks, Idaho was knocked out of Big Sky and FCS playoff contention. Likewise, Southern Utah University came to Moscow on Saturday with a conference record of 0-6. Neither team played to make it to championships. They played solely for pride.
What followed was a statement game by the Vandals, beating the Thunderbirds 42-24.
The Vandals were determined to win. They scored on the first drive of the game, and never lost the lead from that point forward. The closest score was 14-10 near the beginning of the second quarter.
This strong performance was especially present on the game’s stat sheet.
Idaho had seven more minutes than Southern Utah in time of possession — with Idaho possessing the ball for 33:53 compared to Southern Utah at 26:07. The Vandals also beat out Southern Utah in total yardage. The Vandals had 492 yards of total offense compared to the Thunderbirds’ 338.
Despite this being an emphatic win for the Vandals, the game was still an ugly one.
The Vandals and the Thunderbirds combined for 15 penalties for 147 yards, with one Southern Utah player being ejected for a facemask and taunting penalty in the same play.
Despite the physicality and how many penalty flags flew throughout the game, the Vandals pulled out the win with career games from many of the program’s graduating players.
Junior linebacker Tre Walker had two pass breakups during the game on critical third downs. Redshirt senior linebacker Charles Akanno had three sacks on one drive, one being a strip sack that resulted in a fumble recovery that sealed a victory for the Vandals. Senior wide receiver Mekhi Stevenson caught every single one of his targets — five catches for 45 yards. Redshirt senior Rashaan Crawford, who typically operates on the defensive line, came in to assist the offense as an extra blocker on a couple of touchdown runs.
Before the game, coach Paul Petrino told them to make this last game a statement.
“It was the last time some of those guys played in that dome,” Petrino said. “I told them, ‘make it your best game that you’ve played in that dome yet,’ and there are guys who did.”
But one player who made this game extra special, with a record-setting performance, was redshirt junior running back Roshaun Johnson. Johnson had 30 carries for 174 yards and six touchdowns, breaking the Idaho record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game. All of the Vandals’ points during the game, aside from the extra point attempts, came from Johnson. Despite it, before he was asked a single question at the post-game press conference, Johnson proclaimed it was because of his team.
“I owe all my touchdowns and all my yards to the offensive line,” Johnson said, after he walked into the room. “The whole thing is the offensive line.”
Johnson said he learned he had broken the record during the game, but he kept his focus on winning, not on his achievement.
But Johnson was not the only successful one in the backfield. Logan Kendall and Aundre Carter were both out for this game, so the running back duties fell squarely on the shoulders of Johnson and freshman Elisha Cummings. Despite not scoring a touchdown, Cummings still made his mark on the game. He rushed for 99 yards on 13 carries, returned three kickoffs for 81 yards and had a reception for 34 yards, tallying 204 all-purpose yards for the game.
The Vandals arguably put up their best team win since their week-one matchup against Simon Fraser. As Vandals go to Montana next weekend to face the leader of Big Sky Standings, Montana State, this is a consistency they’ll need to maintain.
Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected]