Before last night’s game, there hadn’t been over 10,000 people in the Kibbie Dome since Idaho played Idaho State in 2019. Last night, 10,759 people watched redshirt freshman quarterback Gevani McCoy have a career night while two running backs almost made it to 100 rushing yards.
It was an offense battle to start, but Idaho’s defense came out to play in the second half, helping the Vandals pull off the 55-35 homecoming win. The win makes it the first time since 2009 that Idaho has started out 2-0 in conference play (they would go on to win the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl that season).
The Vandals wasted no time as they received the ball to start. McCoy hit redshirt sophomore wide receiver Hayden Hatten for a 48-yard gain. Two plays later, redshirt junior WR Jermaine Jackson caught a check-down from McCoy and took it 26 yards into the endzone to put the Vandals up after just one-and-a-half minutes of play.
On Northern Colorado’s first drive, they paced for 18 yards before graduate student QB Dylan McCaffery was able to find graduate student RB Elijah Dotson for a short pass. Dotson broke a tackle and ran for 35 yards. A couple plays later, Vandal’s head coach Jason Eck got what he asked students to cause as the Bears defensive line jumped early, giving Northern Colorado a false start. The Bears were able to make up for the loss as a few plays later, on third-and-14, sophomore defensive back Murvin Kenion III received an unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the Bears 15 yards and automatic first down. On the next play, sophomore RB David Afari ran it in for a 14-yard touchdown, but sophomore DB Marcus Harris blocked the kick, keeping the Vandals up 7-6.
The next drive would take 18 plays and eight minutes. Despite being 18 plays long, a lot of them were check down passes from McCoy, short runs from freshman RB Anthony Woods and penalties from Northern Colorado. While the drive was full of defensive penalties, Idaho was never quite able to get things moving, forcing junior kicker Ricardo Chavez to attempt a 21-yard field goal. Just as it has eight times prior this season, it went straight through the uprights to give the Vandals a 10-6 lead and keep Chavez perfect on field goal attempts.
The next score would come eight minutes into the second quarter. After an incomplete pass, McCaffery faked the screen before hitting Afari for a 40-yard gain. Just seconds after, McCaffery rolled out of the pocket and heaved the ball down field to redshirt sophomore WR Ty Arrington for a 31-yard touchdown. This time the PAT was good, putting the Bears up 13-10.
Idaho wouldn’t stay down for long though. A few double-digit passes and short runs would set McCoy up to use his legs on third-and-eight. He picked up the first down and had Idaho set up 27 yards away from the end zone. Sophomore running back Elisha Cummings was the back on this particular drive, and when he was handed the ball, he cut left and ran down field for the touchdown to put Idaho back on top 17-13.
Northern Colorado’s defense may not have been apparent in the first half, but their offense was electric. With 34 yards to go, McCaffery threw the ball up high and it landed right in the hands of junior WR Kassidy Woods for a 30-yard gain. However, there was a roughing-the-passer call made, adding two yards to the end of the play. Dotson would pick up the final two yards to put the Bears up 20-17 with 1:21 remaining in the half.
With just over a minute to go, the Vandals put their trust in Cummings. He had a 15-yard and 12-yard gain before McCoy hit Hatten for a nine-yard gain. One play later, McCoy handed it off to Cummings and Cummings once again took the long run into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game, putting the Vandals up 24-20 to end the half.
The Bears received to start the second half, but a 10-yard sack by redshirt senior defensive linemen Leo Tamba and Juliano Falaniko led to a quick punt.
The Vandals, mostly Anthony Woods, took advantage of the good field position. After a few short passes by McCoy, Woods took back-to-back handoffs. The first one went for 29 yards and the second went for 15 yards and a touchdown to put Idaho up 31-20.
Other than a 24-yard pass from McCaffery, the next drive was methodical for the Bears. With checkdown passes and short runs, they marched down the field. With eight yards to go, Northern Colorado called a timeout. It worked as one play after an incomplete pass, McCaffery hit Dotson to make the score 31-28.
Once again, it would only take the Vandals a minute-and-a-half to score. McCoy hit Jackson for a 23-yard gain, Woods ran for 17 yards over the next two plays, then McCoy hit Hatten for approximately eight yards, but Hatten blew through five or six defenders to go another 27 yards for the touchdown, putting Idaho up 38-28.
Another Bears three-and-out would put the Vandals in great field position to score again. With 34 yards to go, Anthony Woods picked up 16 yards with his legs and McCoy picked up the other 18 with his arm. Hatten would once again be the receiver to get the touchdown, going nine yards to put the Vandals up 45-28.
To start the fourth quarter, Northern Colorado came out explosive as McCaffery hit redshirt freshman WR Noah Ford for a 29-yard game. Despite the big gain in yardage, sophomore DL Kamari Bailey got in the backfield for his third sack in three games, causing a 12-yard loss that led to Idaho getting the ball back.
Although they were up three scores, the Vandals weren’t comfortable with only having a 17-point lead with 14 minutes remaining. Most of the damage was done by senior RB Roshaun Johnson as he ran for 40 yards on the drive. Johnson’s strength got Idaho to where they were able to put Cummings and his speed in the backfield. He ran 12 yards for his third touchdown on the night to put the Vandals up 52-28.
The Bears offense quickly went back off the field as Kenion III got an interception to bring the Vandals offense back on the field with 7:16 to go.
The Vandals were unable to capitalize on the good field position, only gaining five yards off Anthony Woods rushes, but Chavez was able to hit his second field goal of the night to go a perfect 10/10 so far this season.
This would be the final score for Idaho, but Northern Colorado still had some offense in the tank (or in this case, on the sideline). McCaffery went out to start the drive, but Vandal fans made it known who they wanted at quarterback.
“We want Sirmon” chanted the student section.
They got Sirmon, along with a Bears touchdown to end the game 55-35.
It was a miraculous evening for the Vandals offensively. McCoy had 298 yards and four touchdowns, completing 22/27 passes with zero interceptions or sacks. Anthony Woods was four yards away from 100 rushing yards, going 96 yards on 17 carries. Cummings also had a great game as he ended with 78 total yards on seven carries. The receiving core was once again elite as Hatten led with 131 yards on eight receptions. Jackson also hit triple digits, adding 101 yards on six receptions.
On defense, everyone that went on the field had either a solo or assist tackle.
“(It’s) great. Everyone’s just swarming to the ball,” said senior LB, and team captain, Fa’avae Fa’avae.
Fa’avae led the defense with 10 total tackles. Redshirt junior LB Paul Moala had six tackles and an interception while Kenion III had five tackles and an interception.
Idaho may be 2-0 in conference play for the first time in 13 years, but Eck is looking towards the future.
“It’s a little sad, it’s not like we’re jumping over some amazing hurdle to be 2-0,” said Eck. “We’re playing probably the best team we’ll play after the bye week.”
Although Idaho has been playing very well through their first five games of the season, their next opponent is top-ranked Montana. They’ll face the Griz in two weeks in Missoula, Montana at noon.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jamesaldrich25