MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Yes, it was a football game.
But it was one of the wildest as Middle Tennessee outscored Idaho 70-58 in a Sun Belt Conference game that not only set records for both teams but for the NCAA as well. The combined point total of 128 eclipsed the NCAA record of 124 set by Oklahoma and Colorado in 1980 and easily surpassed the former UI mark of 109 by Idaho and Weber State in 1994. UI's 58 points was an NCAA record for the most points scored by the losing team.
Idaho sophomore quarterback Brian Lindgren demolished Vandal passing records - passes completed (49), attempted (71), yards passing (637) and total offense (657).
The records, though, are bittersweet in the wake of the Vandals falling to 0-5 and 0-1 in the Sun Belt. The Blue Raiders took firm control of the league race with a 3-0 conference mark (5-0 overall).
"That's the only thing that matters," said Lindgren after the loss before 23,106 at Floyd Stadium. "Offensively, I think we did a lot of good things but I think we could have made a lot more plays."
Despite a team record 760 yards total offense, Idaho chased MTSU throughout - and from a deep hole dug in what has become a pattern of slow starts.
Idaho trailed 35-3 before scoring its only first-half touchdown of the season with 3:39 to go in the second quarter when Ethan Jones pulled in a 10-yard pass from Lindgren. But before the half could wind down, MTSU's quick strike offense struck again and the Vandals trailed 42-10 going into the break.
Idaho scored the first TD of the second half, which, in what became a pattern for the third quarter, MTSU answered. The Vandals didn't make up any ground until late in the third quarter when they scored three unanswered TDs to set the stage for the wild finish.
"We still haven't learned to play this game for four quarters," Idaho coach Tom Cable said. "That's the bottom line.
"We didn't change a thing offensively. We just went out and made plays. I've got to convince them, somehow, that's what we're capable of all the time. When that happens, we'll be the team we want to be."
The second half Vandal offense was what Idaho wants to be. The defense, on the other hand, wasn't. Big plays continue to haunt the UI defense. The Blue Raiders had 11 plays of more than 20 yards.
"The first half, we didn't get done what we wanted to get done," freshman defensive end Brandon Kania said. "The second half, I felt like we beat those guys.
"But we gave up too many big plays. That's what it comes down to. Big plays make the game."
Lindgren wasn't the only Vandal making his way into the record book Saturday night. Junior tailback Blair Lewis goes in in a tie with Russell Davis for the most all-purpose yards (347) in a single game. Senior receiver Chris Lacy had the second-best reception total (15) in school history and Lewis, with 11 catches, found his way onto that last list as well in a tie for 11th.
Lacy's total 221 yards receiving ties Eric Yarber for sixth on the all-time single-game list.
As a team, Lindgren's passing marks also stand as team records for pass attempts, completions and yards. Idaho's total offensive output of 760 yards bumped the previous mark of 716 against Weber State in 1993. The combined total offense by both teams (1,445 yards) broke the previous mark if 1,321 set in 1994 against UNLV.
First down records also tumbled with the total 39 one better than the previous mark set against Boise State in 1985 and the 21 passing first downs bettering the 1969 mark against Southern Mississippi.
Again, bittersweet.
"We've got to find a way to slow someone down," Cable said. "That's the bottom line."
