Third-string QB throws game-winning TD in waning seconds for Vandals
Photo courtesy UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO Idaho's Cutrell Hayward, right, celebrates after catching the winning touchdown pass against Southern Utah with seven seconds left Saturday at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
Photo courtesy UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO Idaho true freshman CJ Jordan got the start at quarterback and finished with 183 yards passing in the first three quarters, before leaving with an injury. He also rushed for 38 yards.
From wire and news services
MOSCOW — Third-string quarterback Nikhil Nayar threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Cutrell Haywood with 7 seconds left to give Idaho a 33-32 win over Southern Utah on Saturday before 1,947 at the Kibbie Dome.
“I’m just so proud of our whole team,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “You start the game out with three freshmen on the O-line, a freshman quarterback, all kinds of new guys out there, without a few key players, they just kept fighting.”
Nayar, a redshirt sophomore, entered the game late in the third quarter and finished 12 of 20 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns. His passing accounted for all 82 yards of Idaho’s 15-play, game-winning drive.
“That last drive, Nikhil, couldn’t be more proud of him,” Petrino said. “He stayed sharp, he was out for a long time for different reasons, and he came back and really worked hard and was sharp and knew what he was doing, and did a good job of taking what the defense gave him.
"Both quarterbacks did a great job, and when both quarterbacks do a good job, then obviously the O-line did a great job.”
Idaho’s starting quarterback Mike Beaudry was unavailable for the game for undisclosed reasons. True freshman CJ Jordan, who started in Beaudry’s place, limped off the field after a sack and finished with 183 yards passing in the first three quarters for Idaho (2-1, 2-1 Big Sky Conference). He also rushed for 38 yards.
Hayden Hatten had career highs of 12 catches for 155 yards, and a touchdown for the Vandals. Haywood caught six passes for 68 yards and Dylan Thigpen ran nine times for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Justin Miller passed for 422 yards and three touchdowns for the Thunderbirds (1-3, 1-3), who suffered their third last-minute loss of the season.
Southern Utah extended its lead to 32-27 on Jake Gerardi’s 46-yard field goal with 2:16 left.
Defensively, Fa’Avae Fa’Avae stepped in and set a career-high with 18 tackles. Noah Elliss picked up his first sack, and Jaxon Woodward and Awan Parker each grabbed interceptions.
“Defense did not play very well in the first half, but they really stepped up in the second half,” Petrino said. “We started by basically tackling better, doing our jobs better.”
Idaho took the early lead on a 1-yard touchdown by Roshaun Johnson. The lead was short-lived, as the Thunderbirds quickly drove down field to tie the score. Cade Coffey, a senior from Lakeland High, closed out the first with a field goal to give the Vandals the 10-7 advantage.
SUU took control in the second quarter with a pair of touchdowns to go up 22-13 at the break.
After a Thigpen touchdown and another SUU score, the Vandals found themselves down by nine heading into the fourth quarter with Nayar about to step on the field.
“It was scary to coach, but it was a fun ending,” Petrino said.
Idaho plays at Idaho State next Saturday.
