CALDWELL, Idaho – Josh Lopez stopped Montana State-Northern receiver Josh Luomo one-yard short of the end zone on the final play of the game, as the College of Idaho defeated the Lights, 35-31, before a sellout crowd of 5,356 at Simplot Stadium.
After squandering a 28-0 halftime lead, the Coyotes (4-2, 3-2 Frontier) regained the lead on a Ryan Texeira three-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds remaining.
Northern (1-5, 1-4) didn't quit, as Trevor Baum returned the ensuing kickoff into C of I territory. Travis Dean found Zach McKinley on a screen pass down to the Yotes six-yard line with 12 seconds left. However, Nate Moore broke up a pass to Baum in the left corner of the end zone, setting up the wild finish. Baum toss a quick out to Luoma, who caught the ball on the two yard line, however, Lopez wrapped up the receiver short of the goal line to help C of I improve to 3-0 at home this season.
The first half belonged to the Yotes, sprinting out to a four touchdown lead. On the opening play from scrimmage, Teejay Gordon found Marcus Lenhardt for 36 yards. On the next snap, Texeira made the most of his first collegiate carry, running untouched 28-yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.
A pair of Dean interceptions in the opening quarter – one by Grant Darrington, the other by Cory Brady – set up two short touchdown drives. A Texeira 14-yard run set up a one-yard scoring run by Gordon to make it 14-0, while after Brady returned his pick to the Northern two yard line, Gordon snuck in to extend the lead to 21-0.
C of I had their longest drive of the day span the first and second quarters, going 90 yards on 12 plays, capped by an 18-yard scoring run by Gordon to push the margin to 28-0.
The Lights dominated the first 25 minutes of the second half, outgaining C of I 334-39 during the stretch. A C of I fumble on their first possession of the third quarter set up a quick 46-yard drive for Northern, with McKinley scoring from one-yard out to get the visitors on the board.
Jordan Rueschhoff connected on a 26-yard field goal and Mario Gobbato sprinted in from 30-yards out to cut the margin to 28-17. A Malcolm Manuel interception deep in C of I territory set up a one-play MSU-N drive, as McKinley found pay dirt to get the Lights within 28-24.
After a C of I three-and-out, Northern took the lead, as Dean found tight end John Jansen for 25 yards, setting up a McKinley 15-yard scoring run to give the Lights the 31-28 lead.
The Coyotes offense showed life on their final drive, as Gordon found Lenhardt for nine yards on a fourth-and-six, with the duo connecting again for 16 yards on a fourth-and-13 to get C of I down to the 27 yard line inside the final two minutes. Texeira took over, rattling off carries of 10, nine, and five yards to set up his go-ahead score.
Texeira had a break-out game, carrying 24 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns, as Northern bottled up Gordon – who had just 21 yards on 17 carries and was sacked four times. The Yotes signal-caller was 14-of-26 for 159 yards and two interceptions, with Lenhardt making seven grabs for 105 yards.
Dean was 25-of-41 for 329 yards and three interceptions for MSU-N, with Jake Messerly making seven catches for 108 yards. McKinley rushed 21 times for 102 yards and three scores in the loss.
C of I returns to action next weekend, traveling to Billings, Mont., and a meeting with Rocky Mountain.
NOTES: The Yotes were outgained on the ground for the first time in 2014, as MSU-N held a 192-184 edge in rushing yards…Kevin McLemore had a big day punting the ball for C of I, punting six times for a 42 yard average, including three punts downed inside the 10-yard-line…Jordan Vielma led the Yotes with eight tackles, with Lopez, Darrington, and Khallid Ransom each recording six…the crowd of 5,356 was a new stadium record.
