BILLINGS, Mont. – Andre McCullouch caught a 40-yard touchdown pass with just under six minutes left to break open a one-score game, as No. 15 ranked Rocky Mountain held off upset-minded College of Idaho, 35-21, at Herb Klindt Field.
The Bears (5-2, 4-2 Frontier) ended a two-game home losing streak, sprinting out to a 21-0 third quarter lead, but needed the touchdown pass and a late interception to close out C of I.
An early third quarter interception led to a one-yard Jade Olson touchdown plunge, staking Rocky to a three touchdown lead. However, C of I answered under the leadership of back-up quarterback Jake Hennessey. The sophomore signal caller led the Yotes (4-3, 3-3) on a 17-play, 79-yard drive, calling his own number from four yards out to get C of I on the board.
On RMC's next possession, Kyle Cothern stripped the ball from running back Frank Brown and recovered the ball at the Bears' 21 yard line. Hennessey did the rest, scampering down the right sideline for 21 yards to get the Yotes within 21-14 with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Bears got a key 55-yard kickoff return by Jason Baker, setting up an Olson 36-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the home team a 28-14 lead. C of I came right back, going 75 yards in 17 plays, capped by a four-yard fourth down touchdown run by Isaac Gonzalez to get Yotes within 28-21.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cedric Foster returned the boot 54 yards into C of I territory, with Bryce Baker connecting for the long touchdown pass to McCullouch to put the game out of reach.
C of I made one final push, but Jorden Upton picked off a Hennessey pass in the red zone with less than two minutes remaining to seal the victory.
The Coyotes threatened on their first drive of the game, as Gonzalez hauled in a 47-yard pass from starter Teejay Gordon on the opening play of the game. However, the Yotes had four cracks to score from the five yard line, with Zach Garzoli stacked up inside the one yard line on fourth down.
Rocky broke through late in the first quarter, as a 20-yard pass from Baker to Ryan Toner on third down set up a Baker 17-yard touchdown run. Midway through the second quarter, the Bears went 98 yards in 13 plays – taking advantage of the Yotes jumping offside on a fourth and four play to extend the drive – with Baker finding McCullouch from 15-yards out to make it 14-0.
Baker was 17-of-25 for 173 yards, hooking up eight times with McCullouch for 97 yards and the two scores. Olson had a season-high 93 yards, as Rocky rolled up 239 yards on the ground.
Hennessey led the Yotes with 80 yards rushing, while going 10-of-18 for 98 yards through the air, though being picked off twice. Gordon, who did not play in the second half, was 13-of-21 for 151 yards in the opening 30 minutes. Austin Diffey caught seven passes for 53 yards and Marcus Lenhardt added six receptions for 78 yards in the loss.
C of I returns home next Saturday, hosting Southern Oregon at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Despite the loss, the Yotes outgained Rocky 446-412 and held the ball for over 39 minutes…Gonzalez had three rushes for 36 yards and made two receptions for 55 yards…punter Kevin McLemore had another great afternoon, averaging 46 yards a punt…Cory Brady had the longest punt return of the season, returning a late second quarter punt 42 yards…linebacker Jordan Vielma recorded 14 tackles (10 solo) – the most tackles by a Coyote in a game this season…Hunter Temple and Khallid Ransom each added eight tackles in the loss.
