IDAHO FOOTBALL: Saunders sparks Vandals

LAFAYETTE, La. — For running back Isaiah Saunders – who covered 86 yards on the ground and caught five passes for 55 yards, it was his family in the stands that provided the extra inspiration for him in a 23-13 Sun Belt Conference football victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night before 21,367 at Cajun Field.

“The number one thing was my family came here,” Saunders said. “I love playing in front of them. I come out and play every game as hard as I can but especially in front of my family, I knew I had to do something.”

Coach Paul Petrino said Saunders’ inspired play in the second half carried the Vandals (5-4, 3-2 Sun Belt), who are now one win away from bowl eligibility.

“Isaiah stepped up and was a stud,” he said. “Sometimes you need someone to will you to victory.”

Petrino passed the victory around — to an offense that was dominant in the first half, a defense in the second, and kicker/punter Austin Rehkow who continued to excel. He was good on all three field goal attempts, which includes a career-best 50 yarder. And to his coaching staff, which puts all the pieces together.

Matt Linehan finished 20-of-30 passing for 227 yards — and 40 yards rushing. Defensively, the main nod went to Tony Lashley with 13 total tackles, and Kaden Elliss and Aikeem Coleman with two sacks each. As a unit, the defense limited the Ragin’ Cajuns to just 266 total yards.

Linehan mixed passes with runs from Duckworth and Brantley — along with a 21-yard scramble of his own, to march the Vandals 75 yards on their first drive. Brantley capped it with a 1-yard run with 10:15 to go in the first.

The Cajuns responded with a 37-yard field goal two minutes later for a 7-3 Idaho lead with 8:13 to play in the first.

Austin Rehkow was successful on his 19th field goal of the season to give the Vandals a 10-3 lead with 4:51 to go in the first.

The Cajuns evened the score at 10 when Anthony Jennings scored from three yards out to cap a 17-play drive with 13:31 to go in the first half.

Saunders capped the Vandals’ next drive with a 1-yard push through the right side of the line. He was the playmaker throughout the drive with four carries, including the scoring run, and two pass receptions. With 4:33 left in the first half, Idaho led 17-10.

Louisiana Lafayette (3-5, 2-3) cut the margin to 17-13 with a 29-yard field goal by Stevie Artigue but it was all Idaho the rest of the way in a game with no turnovers.

Rehkow kicked a career-long 50-yard field goal for the only score of the third quarter to send the Vandals into the fourth quarter with a 20-13 lead.

Anthony Jennings completed 17 of his 30 passes for 161 yards for Louisiana-Lafayette.

Idaho 10 7 3 3 — 23

La-Lafayette 3 10 0 0 — 13

First Quarter

IDA—Brantly 1 run (Rehkow kick), 10:15.

ULL—Artigue 37 FG, 8:13.

IDA—Rehkow 29 FG, 4:51.

Second Quarter

ULL—Jennings 3 run (Artigue kick), 13:31.

IDA—Sanders 1 run (Rehkow kick), 4:33.

ULL—Artigue 29 FG, :28.

Third Quarter

IDA—Rehkow 50 FG, 4:29.

Fourth Quarter

IDA—Rehkow 44 FG, 7:22.

A—21,367.

IDA ULL

First downs 22 18

Rushes-yards 40-157 40-105

Passing 227 161

Comp-Att-Int 20-30-0 17-30-0

Return Yards 46 64

Punts-Avg. 4-0.0 5-0.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-45 6-29

Time of Possession 32:32 27:28

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Idaho, Saunders 21-86, Ma.Linehan 6-40, Duckworth 7-19, Brantley 5-14, (Team) 1-(minus 2). Louisiana-Lafayette, McGuire 17-55, Hoggins 6-20, Wright 3-15, Jennings 12-9, Riles 2-6.

PASSING—Idaho, Ma.Linehan 20-30-0-227. Louisiana-Lafayette, Jennings 17-30-0-161.

RECEIVING—Idaho, Saunders 5-55, Onunwor 3-17, Frysinger 2-35, Watson 2-27, Cowan 2-15, Sannon 2-12, Mwehla 1-33, Brantley 1-13, Duckworth 1-10, C.Hightower 1-10. Louisiana-Lafayette, Byrne 4-27, Jacquet 3-77, K.Barnes 3-32, Riles 3-18, Wright 1-5, M.Barnes 1-3, Hoggins 1-0, McGuire 1-(minus 1).

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.