DILLON, Mont. – Despite forcing four turnovers, the College of Idaho could not cash in on three different trips to the red zone, as Montana Western outlasted the Yotes, 16-14, at Vigilante Field.
Back-up quarterback Bennett Gibson passed for 243 yards and a touchdown, as the No. 19 ranked Bulldogs survived at home.
The Coyotes (0-1) defense limited Western to just 81 yards rushing (2.1 yards per carry) and forced four fumbles – including a pair inside the Bulldogs 30-yard-line in the first quarter – but did not score a point off the miscues.
A muffed punt after C of I's first possession set the Yotes up at the Bulldog 17-yard-line, but
Darius-James Peterson was stopped a half-yard short on a 4th-and-2 to turn the ball over on downs. Western coughed the ball up again on their fourth play of the ensuing drive, with the Yotes marching to the 1-yard-line. However, the defense held, forcing a 20-yard field goal try by
Kyle Mitchell that was blocked, thwarting the scoring chance.
C of I finally broke through, using an 11-play, 63-yard drive to get on the board. A 23-yard pass play from Peterson to
Dominic Garzoli got the Yotes into the red zone, with Peterson bulling his way into the end zone on a 4th-and-goal carry from the 1-yard-line. However, UMW blocked the point-after try.
Western answered, as Gibson, who replaced starter J.D. Ferris, who was injured late in the first quarter, went 6-for-7 on the next drive, finding Ryan Sullivan in the left corner of the end zone to cap the 14-play march, giving the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead.
After a C of I punt, Gibson found George Sherwood on the Bulldogs biggest play of the day, a 45-yard strike, setting up a 22-yard Mark Kharchenko field goal to extend the lead to 10-6. Just before halftime, Kharchenko connected on a 27-yard try to give Western a seven point lead at the break.
The Bulldogs added to their lead on the first drive of the second half, converting two third downs and a fourth down chance, part of a 14-play march that ended with a 24-yard field goal from Kharchenko to push the lead to 16-6.
A 62-yard drive by the Yotes was ended when Jay Owens picked off Peterson in the red zone – but after the C of I defense forced a 3-and-out, the ensuing punt snap sailed over Sherwood's head and out of the end zone for a safety, pulling the Coyotes within 16-8.
Early in the fourth quarter, C of I had their best drive of the afternoon – started by a 44-yard scamper down the left sideline by
Mike Kirby. Peterson converted a 4th-and-2 to extend the drive and found
Keegan Crafton twice – once on a 16-yard pass to get the ball inside the 10-yard-line, and again in the end zone on a 4th-and-goal from the 5-yard-line. However, Peterson was stopped just short of the goal line on the game-tying 2-point conversion attempt.
C of I's defense gave the offense two opportunities – forcing Hunter Thomsen to fumble twice – but the Yotes were unable to capitalize on the turnovers.
Peterson finished 22-of-37 for 176 yards and added 59 yards on the ground, but was intercepted three times. Kirby rushed for 57 yards, while Garzoli had six receptions for 59 yards.
Thomsen led Western with 86 yards rushing on a game-high 30 carries, with Sherwood hauling in five balls for 85 yards.
The Coyotes return to action next Saturday, traveling to Division I Northern Colorado for a 2:05 p.m. kickoff.
NOTES –
Nate Moore had a big day defensively, leading C of I with 16 tackles – including a big stop on a 3rd-and-1 in the fourth quarter; true freshmen
Jayden Dawson and
Segun Olubi combined for 18 tackles in their college debuts; the Yotes were 3-of-4 on fourth down chances, but were just 4-of-15 on third down conversions; the safety recorded by the Yotes was the first since a 1977 win at Whitworth.
