LA GRANDE, Ore. – A late fourth quarter rally came up short, as the College of Idaho dropped their 2018 season opener at Eastern Oregon, 24-21, before 1,150 fans at Community Stadium.
The Mountaineers (1-0, 1-0) limited the C of I running game to just 78 total yards, but had to withstand a charge inside the final seven minutes to secure the victory.
EOU quarterback Kai Quinn broke two tackles on a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give the hosts a 24-14 lead, but the Mounties could not capitalize on consecutive C of I interceptions. Quinn was picked off by Nik Lyons to thwart one drive, while
Levi Russo-Bell blocked a Nathan Harden punt that was returned by
Isaiah Abdul for a touchdown with six minutes left.
The Yotes (0-1, 0-1) forced a punt and started their final drive inside their own 10-yard-line – but back-up quarterback
Nathaniel Holcomb converted a third down pass to
Connor Gagain and added a 14-yard strike to
Hunter Juarez and an 18-yard pass to
Connor Richardson to reach EOU territory with 40-seconds left. However, a fourth down pass fell incomplete to end the comeback bid.
The two teams traded touchdowns in a first half defensive struggle – as a Quinn 27-yard pass to Phillip Millhollen set up a Victor Dias 2-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 – only to watch the Yotes answer, as a
Darius-James Peterson 39-yard pass to
Dominic Garzoli led to a Garzoli 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
EOU regained the lead on the first possession of the second half, as Dias capped a 75-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run. C of I evened the score midway through the quarter, as a roughing the passer penalty on the Mounties prolonged the Coyote drive – with Holcomb connecting with Garzoli on a 28-yard touchdown strike.
The 78 yards rushing by the Yotes was the fewest since football returned in 2014 with the 295 yards of total offense just the third time C of I has failed to rack up 300 or more yards as a team.
Nick Calzaretta rushed 12 times for 54 yards and Garzoli added 18 yards on eight carries. Peterson rushed just eight times for eight yards and was sacked three times, finishing 12-of-25 for 136 yards through the air, including two interceptions. Holcomb was 7-of-10 for 81 yards off the bench, with Richardson catching seven passes for 76 yards and Garzoli logging five receptions for 76 yards.
David Ford led the Coyote defense with nine tackles, with Lyons adding eight tackles and four pass breakups to go along with his interception.
Daniel Garcia and
Keagan McCoy added sacks.
Quinn passed for 326 yards on the day for EOU, with Dias rushing for 79 of the Mountaineers 126 yards on the ground. All-America receiver Brendon Kelly had a game-high 10 receptions for 127 yards and Zack Jacobs had two interceptions in the win.
C of I opens the home schedule next Saturday, hosting Montana Tech at 1 p.m.
QUICK HITS: The game marked the first football game on EOU's new artificial surface at Community Stadium…C of I fell to 2-2 in night games since football returned in 2014…the loss ended a three-game win streak dating back to last season…C of I has lost their last three season openers, dating back to a 40-28 win over EOU to start 2015…the two teams combined for 20 penalties for 179 yards on the night.
