BILLINGS, Mont. – Rocky Mountain College turned six College of Idaho turnovers into 14 points which proved to be the difference, as the Battlin' Bears used a big fourth quarter to defeat the Yotes, 31-7, before 900 Homecoming fans at Herb Klindt Field.
Jacob Bakken threw for two touchdowns and added a key fourth quarter scoring run, as the Bears (3-2, 3-1 Frontier) outscored C of I 17-0 in the final period to win for the third time in four outings.
Griff Amies connected on a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the final quarter to extend the Rocky lead to 17-7. After forcing C of I to punt on their next possession, Sam Sparks busted loose on a 46-yard run that set up a Bakken 5-yard scoring run off right tackle to extend the lead. The Yotes were unable to muster a comeback – as C of I had drives ended via an interception, a fumble and on a fourth down attempt to close out the game.
The Yotes had chances in the first quarter to take a lead – forcing three RMC fumbles – but came away empty handed. A
Zach Garzoli 18-yard touchdown run was wiped off the board due to a holding penalty and on the next play, a
Darius-James Peterson pass into the end zone was bobbled by a C of I receiver, with Kendall Jefferson picking off the ball to end the drive.
Rocky got on the board in the second quarter, going 65 yards on 14 plays after a C of I fumble, with Bakken finding tight end Brandon Mosley in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard scoring pass and the 7-0 lead.
C of I answered as a Peterson 23-yard run was followed by a 24-yard screen pass to
Dominic Garzoli that found the end zone to tie the score.
RMC regained the lead on the ensuing possession, taking advantage of a C of I pass interference call on a 4th-and-9 play to extend the drive. Bakken found Mosley again, this time from 10-yards out, to extend the margin to 14-7 at the break.
C of I had chances in the third quarter – but were stopped twice inside the RMC 25-yard-line.
Bakken finished the game 17-of-25 for 183 yards, adding 49 of Rocky's 199 rushing yards. Sparks rushed 15 times for 88 yards to lead the Bears ground game, while Lucas Overton caught six passes for 119 yards, including a late 11-yard touchdown pass.
Peterson rushed for 82 yards in the loss for the Coyotes and was sacked four times, while completing 12-of-26 passes for 189 yards – including a 61-yard strike to freshman
Jack Hogeboom.
Keegan Crafton had five receptions for 68 yards for C of I, while three players recorded double-digit tackles –
Segun Olubi (14 tackles),
Nate Moore (11 tackles) and
Josh Price (11 tackles, 3 TFL) - with
Hunter Temple recording nine tackles, forcing two fumbles and recovering two others
The Yotes have next weekend off in preparation for their Oct. 7 match-up at Carroll College.
