DES MOINES, Iowa – The next chapter of the storybook season for College of Idaho football was wrote on Saturday afternoon when No. 10 College of Idaho upset No. 2 Grand View, 31-17.
Down 9-0 after surrendering three first half field goals and a bend but do not break down defense set the tone for a comeback effort that put the Yotes in the national semifinals for the first time in program history. Led by quarterback Andy Peters, the offense scored touchdowns on its first three drives of the second half to take a 21-17 lead early into the fourth quarter.
The second rushing touchdown by Peters put C of I ahead 14-9 and put the host Vikings down for the first time on the season. Grand View came back with a four play, 80-yard drive that saw Jackson Waring connected with Jordan Krumm for a touchdown pass. Plus, a successful two-point conversion made it 17-14 in favor of the host Vikings.
Then, College of Idaho on its third drive of the second half saw a third rushing touchdown by Peters to put the Yotes back ahead 21-17. The host Vikings came back with a drive and marched down the field to move into the red zone. Facing second and goal from the Yotes 7, Chase Brown came from his safety position in the end zone and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown to make it a 28-17 contest in favor of the visitors from Caldwell, Idaho. The 95-yard interception return for a touchdown is the second longest in program history and the second one on the season for C of I.
With the lead, the Yotes defense came back with a three and out to give the ball back to their offensive counterparts. Peters completed a pair of passes, including a 27-yard completion to Brock Richardson on third down to extend the drive. Facing 4th and 7, the Yotes called on kicker Jacob DeMott for 26-yard field goal. The Idaho Falls native delivered and made it a two-touchdown game.
Grand View looked to cut into the lead but again, the defense had an answer as they withstood the threat by the host Vikings. A 15-yard rush by Peters on third down with 1:13 left in the game sealed the win for the visitors.
Statistically, Peters completed 21 of 29 passes for 225 yards and ran 16 times for 77 yards for a career-best three touchdowns. It was the seventh time in 2023 that Peters has been the top ground gainer for the Yotes. Jon Schofield rank three times for 41 yards and caught eight passes for 104 yards. It is second game over 100 yards receiving in a game and his 39-yard rush on 3rd and 1 on the first drive of the second half was his longest of the season. Defensively, Willie Nelson and Chip Mitchell each had seven tackles, plus Tanner Leaf had four tackles including a pair of TFLs.
For Grand View, Jackson Waring completed 23 of 45 passes for 277 yards for a touchdown and on the ground, Avery Gates ran nine times for 52 yards. Nate Ewell recorded eight tackles, including a TFL.
Following the game, for the Yotes' Peters was named the offensive MVP, Brown was selected as the defensive MVP and Willie Nelson was the Champions of Character recipient.
The next opponent for College of Idaho is Keiser University on Saturday, December 9 at 1 p.m. (EST)/11 a.m. (MT).
