COLLEGE FOOTBALL: It's catching on
<p>Idaho's Callen Hightower (6) makes a touchdown reception in front of South Alabama's Jalen Thompson (2) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Moscow, Idaho. (Kyle Mills/Lewiston Tribune via AP)</p>
<p>South Alabama's Maaseiah Francis (85) can't break the shoestring tackle by Idaho's Armond Hawkins (8) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Moscow, Idaho. (Kyle Mills/Lewiston Tribune via AP)</p>
MOSCOW — Sophomore Isaiah Saunders ran 23 times for a career-high 142 yards and three touchdowns Saturday and Idaho guaranteed itself a bowl game with a 38-31 Sun Belt Conference football win over South Alabama before an announced crowd of 9,049 at the Kibbie Dome.
Senior receiver Callen Hightower, back to full strength for the first time in nearly two months, led the receivers for Idaho (7-4, 5-2 Sun Belt) with five catches for 111 yards as junior quarterback Matt Linehan completed 17 of 34 passes for 231 touchdowns.
“There’s so much confidence in this locker room, in this building at this point,” said Linehan, who threw for two scores but was intercepted three times. “It’s exciting to see that no matter what is going on, we’re confident we can win ballgames.”
The game came down to the final drive of the fourth quarter — again. Again, the Vandals held on to win.
Saunders’ 7-yard TD run with 14:27 left in the fourth quarter made it 38-28.
South Alabama cut the deficit to seven on Gavin Patterson’s field goal with 9:43 left. But the Jaguars punted with 5:55 left and ran out of time on their final possession after driving to the Idaho 32.
The Jaguars’ final drive started with South Alabama pinned to its own 4 by an Austin Rehkow punt, and wound up with Russell Siavii batting down a pass in the end zone. The Jaguars (5-6, 1-6), one win away from bowl eligibility, drove into Idaho territory to set up a succession of plays the Vandals successfully thwarted time and again.
“I do believe our kids believe,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said, “that we will wear people out in the fourth quarter. Those were just two great stops in the fourth quarter.
“We felt we were going to get their best shot because they were playing to go to a bowl game. It was one of their better shots. We just kept fighting and fighting. It was a great job by our players. Again, how proud I am of all our assistant coaches — did a great job of getting them prepared and ready to win.”
Junior linebacker Tony Lashley and senior safety Jayshawn Jordan were forces — Lashley with 14 tackles and Jordan with 11. Senior lineman Tueni Lupeamanu and sophomore linebacker Ed Hall had nine each with Hall accounting for three tackles-for-loss and Lupeamanu adding two quarterback hurries. Sophomore Kaden Elliss and freshman Ty Graham each had an interception.
The Vandals now have won three in a row and five of their last six.
“We’ve all been through some tough times together,” Petrino said. “The more tough times that you’ve went through makes you tougher. Iron sharps iron. We’re a pretty darn tough team right now.”
Dallas Davis threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns for South Alabama. Mseiah Francis had seven catches for 146 yards and two TDs.
The Vandals, with their most victories since 2009 — the last time they played in a bowl — wrap up the regular season next Saturday at home against Georgia State.
South Alabama 7 14 7 3 — 31
Idaho 14 10 7 7 — 38
First Quarter
IDA—Saunders 14 run (Rehkow kick), 9:48.
IDA—Cowan 32 pass from Linehan (Rehkow kick), 7:10.
SAB—Francis 6 pass from Garvin (Patterson kick), 3:47.
Second Quarter
IDA—FG Rehkow 24, 6:40.
SAB—Francis 75 pass from Davis (Patterson kick), 6:29.
IDA—Hightower 41 pass from Linehan (Rehkow kick), 2:09.
SAB—Bynes 1 pass from Davis (Patterson kick), :12.
Third Quarter
SAB—Davis 2 run (Patterson kick), 10:52.
IDA—Saunders 1 run (Rehkow kick), 9:12.
Fourth Quarter
IDA—Saunders 7 run (Rehkow kick), 14:27.
SAB—FG Patterson 36, 9:43.
A—9,049.
SAB IDA
First downs 25 27
Rushes-yards 34-157 35-176
Passing 326 231
Comp-Att-Int 25-46-2 17-34-3
Return Yards 22 106
Punts-Avg. 5-0.0 3-0.0
Fumbles-Lost 3-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 11-117 4-45
Time of Possession 29:02 30:58
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—South Alabama, X.Johnson 14-83, D.Davis 13-54, Ayoola 7-20. Idaho, Saunders 23-142, Ma.Linehan 5-21, Duckworth 4-8, Brantley 1-3, Lupeamanu 2-2.
PASSING—South Alabama, D.Davis 24-45-2-320, Garvin 1-1-0-6. Idaho, Ma.Linehan 17-34-3-231.
RECEIVING—South Alabama, Francis 7-146, Magee 4-40, Bynes 3-23, Kutchera 2-36, McCray 2-26, Collier 1-22, X.Johnson 1-14, T.Williams 1-7, D.Moore 1-6, Everett 1-5, Ayoola 1-2, Revell 1-(minus 1). Idaho, C.Hightower 5-111, Frysinger 4-51, Cowan 3-42, Watson 2-15, Onunwor 1-10, Mwehla 1-3, Saunders 1-(minus 1).
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.