Vandals' long road leads to home

From wire and news services and staff reports

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The Idaho Vandals took care of business on Saturday, and now their attention turns to a visit by the Griz — and by ESPN2.

Gevani McCoy ran for a touchdown and passed for another score, wide receiver Hayden Hatten threw his second touchdown pass of the season and Idaho beat Cal Poly 42-14 Saturday night before 6,028 at Mustang Memorial Field.

“Good win,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said. “I thought we did a lot of good things; got to play a lot of guys. Jordan Dwyer stepped up and made a few good plays. The defense stopped the run pretty well in the game.”

“Any of our guys can make the plays; I was glad to have my day,” Dwyer said.

Idaho (5-1, 3-0 Big Sky Conference), ranked No. 3 in the FCS coaches poll, has won three games in a row — including wins over then-No. 4 Sacramento State and then-No. 19 Eastern Washington — since a 31-17 loss at California on Sept. 16.

The Vandals have played five of their first six games on the road — two at FBS schools.

Montana visits the Kibbie Dome on Saturday night to play the Vandals in a nationally televised game.

“Sets up a really big game next week, with two 5-1 teams,” Eck said.

Anthony Woods ripped off a 40-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and McCoy hit Hatten for a 19-yard gain to set up a 6-yard touchdown run by McCoy that made it 7-0 with 12:42 left in the first quarter. Jake Cox caught a 6-yard TD pass from McCoy early in the second quarter before a trick play gave the Vandals a three-touchdown lead.

Running back Nick Romano took a direct shotgun snap and handed the ball to McCoy, who pitched it to Hatten coming the other way. Hatten, on the run to his right, launched a perfectly-placed ball to Jordan Dwyer, who made a contested catch — despite a defensive pass interference penalty — in the front of the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown that made it 21-0 with 4:33 left in the first half.

Bo Kelly was 24 of 45 passing for 262 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Cal Poly (2-4. 0-3).

Idaho broke the game open with 21 points in the second quarter for a 28-7 halftime lead, and the Vandal defense held Cal Poly to one touchdown in the first three quarters .

Five different Vandals scored touchdowns in the game as the offense racked up 421 yards of offense in the game. McCoypassed for 198 yards and a touchdown while not playing much of the second half. McCoy, Woods and Romano each rushed for a touchdown while Cox caught McCoy’s lone TD pass.

Hatten caught five passes for 61 yards.

Kyrin Beachem and Zach Krotzer had interceptions for the Vandals, and Syrr Barnes recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter, setting up another Vandal touchdown. This time backup QB Jack Layne hit Dwyer for his second score of the game.

“It was great to get some turnovers,” said Eck, whose team had gone three games without one.

Romano rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries to lead the rushing attack. Woods rushed for 69 yards on 10 carries without playing much of the second half.

The Vandals have scored on the opening drive of every game this season (four touchdowns, two field goals).

Art Williams, a freshman from Rocky Mountain High in Meridian, had his first carries as a Vandal. He was also back to receive a punt.

Idaho 7 21 7 7 — 42

Cal Poly 0 7 0 7 — 14

First quarter

IDAHO — McCoy 6 run (Chavez kick), 12:42

Second quarter

IDAHO — Cox 6 pass from McCoy (Chavez kick), 13:25

IDAHO — Dwyer 32 pass from Hatten (Chavez kick), 4:33

CP — Fairly-Diyem 62 pass from Kelly (Serna kick), 1:17

IDAHO — Woods 2 run (Chavez kick), :41

Third quarter

IDAHO — Romano 1 run (Chavez kick), 5:48

CP — Booher 22 pass from Kelly (Serna kick), 2:03

IDAHO — Dwyer 26 pass from Layne (Chavez kick), 2:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Idaho, Romano 13-77, A. Woods 10-69, McCoy 6-13, Matheney 2-4, Williams 2-1, Layne 2-(minus 8). Cal Poly, Holyfield 8-33, Biggins 4-13, Fletcher 3-7, G. Woods 1-(minus 2), Kelly 11-(minus 10).

PASSING — Idaho, McCoy 12-21-1-198, Layne 4-5-0-35, Hatten 1-1-0-32. Cal Poly, Kelly 24-45-2-262.

RECEIVING — Idaho, Hatten 5-61, Jackson 4-89, Dwyer 3-75, Romano 1-25, Cox 1-6, Moore 1-5, Hamper 1-3, Graves 1-1. Cal Poly, G. Woods 6-44, Fairly-Diyem 4-93, Burkhart 4-37, Holyfield 3-12, Allen 2-30, Booher 2-26, Scott 1-9, Biggins 1-9, Fletcher 1-2.