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Vandals weather wild game, win 29-23

Four area players on the field

By Randy Lefko & govandals.com
Posted 9/28/17

MOBILE, Ala. – A cross-country trip, a fourth-quarter deficit, two lengthy weather delays and two overtimes could not keep the University of Idaho football from starting Sun Belt Conference play …

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Vandals weather wild game, win 29-23

Four area players on the field


Posted

MOBILE, Ala. – A cross-country trip, a fourth-quarter deficit, two lengthy weather delays and two overtimes could not keep the University of Idaho football from starting Sun Belt Conference play 1-0. The Vandals (2-2, 1-0) tied their Saturday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama against the University of South Alabama with 13 seconds to play in regulation and Idaho running back Isaiah Saunders scored a two-yard rushing touchdown in the second overtime to give Idaho a 29-23 victory over South Alabama (1-3, 0-1), its first conference-opening win since 2012.

“To come up with a win like this under these circumstances is huge for us as a team,” said Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan. “It’s something we can build on going forward. The adversity we had to deal with, the delay, being down in the fourth quarter, another delay and come back in overtime and win the game is huge for us. Our team should have all the confidence in the world right now, knowing we can go out and get a win when we need to.”

The teams traded field goals in the first overtime, with kicker Cade Coffey connecting from 39 yards to give Idaho its first lead of the game. The lead did not last long as South Alabama kicker Gavin Patterson’s 38 yarder forced a second overtime. Patterson missed from 43 yards to give Idaho the ball and a chance to win. That opportunity was put on hold by the game’s second lightning delay. The game was delayed a total of two hours, 27 minutes, plus a 30 minute warmup period before the restart.

When play resumed, Saunders carried the ball four times and finished it off with a diving touchdown from two yards out to give the Vandals a 29-23 double-overtime victory.

Idaho running back Aaron Duckworth, a graduate of Oakleaf High School, plowed through two defenders and rolled into the end zone for a six-yard touchdown to tie the game in the first quarter at 7-7. It was Duckworth’s second touchdown of the season and 11th of his career. Duckworth finished the game with 56 yards on nine carries, but was in the medical tent in the third period for muscle cramps. Duckworth leads the Vandals’ backfield with 393 yards on 59 carries with two scores. He averages 94.2 yards per game in three games.

Also on the field, for South Alabama’s defense was Clay High defensive end Sean Grayer, who had two tackles and nearly scooped up an Idaho fumble in the first half; Clay High offensive guard Tyler Grimsley, who was instrumental in pushing the defensive line for 276 rushing yards for the Jaguars offense and Oakleaf High offensive tackle Nelson Santiago, who was suited up for South Alabama, but has been nursing an injury.

Former Middleburg Bronco standout Richard Owens, a tight end in the NFL and at University of Louisville, was also on the field for South Alabama as an offensive coordinator.

Just before halftime, South Alabama went 73 yards in 2:10 and kicked a go-ahead field goal with six seconds remaining in the second quarter. The victory marks the first time Idaho has come back from a halftime deficit to win since 2011.

Idaho heads into its first bye week with a 2-2 record. South Alabama heads to Louisiana Tech on Sat., Sept. 30