The No. 12 College of Idaho football team began the 2023 season with a 37-7 win over Lincoln (CA) University on Saturday afternoon. After a 54-minute weather delay to start the contest, sunny skies came out and so did the high flying Yotes offense that racked up 416 yards of total offense. The Yotes are 38-27-1 in season openers (dating back to the 1917 season), recording a 27-12-1 mark when playing in front of the home fans.
Â
College of Idaho (1-0) quarterback
Andy Peters, in his second year as the starter, accounted for a career high three touchdowns. Peters completed 20 of 37 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns to go along with five rushes for a career-high 45 yards and a touchdown. The rushing touchdown by Peters was the first of his career.
Â
He had 10-different targets on the day with
Jon Schofield hauling in a team-best five catches for 48 yards and another target,
John Kreps had three catches for a team-high 82 yards and a touchdown.
Â
After a scoreless first quarter, the two teams lit up the scoreboard for 24 points – 17 of them in favor of the host Yotes, who went into halftime with the 17-7 lead. College of Idaho culminated its first drive of the second quarter when
Allamar Alexander scored from two yards out for the 7-0 lead. On the next drive, Peters called his own number for a 12-yard touchdown scamper after a seven play, 69-yard drive. With a 14-0 lead,
Jacob DeMott converted on a 30-yard field goal as the Yotes scored on its third-consecutive drive. Down 17-0 Lincoln spoiled the hopes of a shutout bid with a 32-yard touchdown pass by TJ Goodwin to Darius Maxwell.
Â
The second half saw College of Idaho flex its muscle as a quick start offense when they scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Peters to
John Kreps on the fourth play of the half. The fourth quarter saw the Yotes add to its lead when Peters connected with
Brock Richardson for a 19-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 30-7. The final points of the day when reserve quarterback
Caden Young showed his prowess with his feet when he scored on an 18-yard touchdown run to culminate a 10 play, 80-yard drive late in the fourth quarter.
Â
Defensively, College of Idaho linebacker
Joey Calzaretta led the Yotes with 10 tackles.
Tanner Leaf added eight including one for loss. The College of Idaho defense picked off a pair of passes, including one by defensive tackle
Jordan McKean after a Goodwin pass ricocheted off the backside of his offensive lineman. The other interception came from
Chip Mitchell, who was making his C of I debut. The Yotes defense limited Lincoln to 328 yards and 3 of 14 efforts on third down.
Â
Next, College of Idaho will host Southern Oregon at 1 p.m. as part of a White Out in a non-conference matchup at Simplot Stadium.
Â