Home sweet Dome

MOSCOW — Three defensive touchdowns propelled Idaho past Idaho State 45-21 in Big Sky Conference football on Saturday afternoon before 10,361 at the Kibbie Dome.

The Vandals (3-5, 1-3 Big Sky) scored 28 points off turnovers, including the three defensive TDs in their homecoming game. Lloyd Hightower had a game for the ages, scoring on an interception return and a fumble return. His second score helped stop the Bengal momentum late in the third, and was the first fumble recovery for a touchdown since Russell Siavii in 2015.

Idaho has now won seven of its last nine in the Dome.

“I expected us to play like that.,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “We have to play like that on the road, but we play like that at home every single week.”

Colton Richardson, the Lewiston High product who started at quartertback for the injured Mason Petrino, had a strong day and finished 17 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.

Idaho jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. After a Bengal (3-4, 2-2) turnover, the Vandals got the ball at the ISU 33. Richardson capped off the short drive with a 2-yard rush to take the 7-0 advantage.

Hightower got his first score the day on a 45-yard interception return on the next Bengal possession to double the advantage. The Vandals added a Cade Coffey field goal to close out the quarter and go up 17-0.

Jeff Cotton’s monster day included a 5-yard score to open the second quarter and put the Vandals up, 24-0. Cotton, who missed last week with an injury, finished the day with 10 catches and 192 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season.

“Having Jeff Cotton back obviously was huge,” Petrino said. “Colton did a good job. Couple of those throws downfield ... that’s the most time we’ve had to throw in a long time.”

The Bengals got on the board late in the first half to make it a 24-7 game at the break.

Idaho State cut into the deficit and made it a 10-point game at 31-21 with a pair of touchdowns, sandwiched around an Idaho touchdown to Connor Whitney.

The Vandal defense came to the rescue to close out the third quarter. Hightower got his second TD of the day, after a strip-sack by Leonick Tamba, on a scoop-and-score from 49 yards out.

It didn’t take long for the defense to add another score. Sedrick Thomas picked off Matt Struck and returned it 36 yards to the house to end the quarter.

Although neither team scored in the fourth, Paul Petrino singled out the second-to-last drive as one of the best of the game. The Vandals killed more than 6 minutes and effectively sealed the win.

Dylan Thigpen, in for the injured Aundre Carter, once again set career highs in carries (17) and yards (97). He has set new career-highs in each game he has played in this season.

Struck was 27 of 52 passing for 316 yards for ISU, and Mitch Gueller finished with 11 receptions for 166 yards.

Charles Akanno forced his fourth fumble of the season in the first quarter for Idaho.

idaho 45, idaho state 21

Idaho St. 0 7 14 0 —21

Idaho 17 7 21 0 —45

First Quarter

IDHO–Richardson 2 run (Coffey kick), 6:25.

IDHO–Hightower 45 interception return (Coffey kick), 4:45.

IDHO–FG Coffey 24, 0:07.

Second Quarter

IDHO–Cotton 5 pass from Richardson (Coffey kick), 11:30.

IDST–Rango 4 run (Ryan kick), 5:28.

Third Quarter

IDST–Campbell 11 pass from Struck (Ryan kick), 12:58.

IDHO–Whitney 58 pass from Richardson (Coffey kick), 12:06.

IDST–Gueller 10 pass from Struck (Ryan kick), 8:49.

IDHO–Hightower 49 fumble return (Coffey kick), 0:15.

IDHO–Thomas 36 interception return (Coffey kick), 0:00.

IDST IDHO

First downs 24 19

Rushes-yards 32-88 40-157

Passing 316 318

Comp-Att-Int 27-52-2 20-31-0

Return Yards 30 53

Punts-Avg. 8-44.0 6-49.8

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-1

Penalty-Yards 5-43 10-85

Time of Possession 27:57 32:03

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Idaho St., M. Rango 9-58, T. Flanagan 13-44, M. Dean 1-7, M. Struck 9-(minus 21). Idaho, D. Thigpen 17-97, N. Romano 12-31, J. Bamis 6-17, C. Richardson 4-6, N. Nayar 1-6.

PASSING–Idaho St., M. Struck 27-52-2-316. Idaho, C. Richardson 17-25-0-289, N. Nayar 3-6-0-29.

RECEIVING–Idaho St., M. Gueller 11-166, T. Conner 7-68, T. Flanagan 4-55, A. Campbell 1-11, M. Rango 2-9, N. Shubert 1-5, I. Walter 1-2. Idaho, J. Cotton 10-192, C. Whitney 2-64, C. Haywood 4-41, J. Boston 1-7, N. Romano 1-6, D. Thigpen 1-6, D. Lee 1-2.