LAFAYETTE, La. – Vandal Family is what they say around Moscow. That family – offense, defense, special teams and even the fans, helped propel Idaho to its fifth victory of the season with the 23-13 decision over Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday night.
 
For running back Isaiah Saunders – who covered 86 yards on the ground and caught five passes for 55 yards, it was his family in the stands that provided the extra inspiration for him to follow his Vandal teammates up and down Cajun Field.
 
"The number one thing was my family came here," he said. "I love playing in front of them. I come out and play every game as hard as I can but especially in front of my family, I knew I had to do something."
 
Coach Paul Petrino said Saunders' inspired play in the second half carried the Vandals, who now are 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt.
 
"Isaiah stepped up and was a stud," he said. "Sometimes you need someone to will you to victory."
 
Petrino passed the victory around – to an offense that was dominant in the first half, a defense in the second, and kicker/punter Austin Rehkow who continued to excel. He was good on all three field goal attempts, which includes a career-best 50 yarder. And to his coaching staff, which puts all the pieces together.
 
Matt Linehan finished 20-of-30 passing for 227 yards – and 40 yards rushing. Defensively, the main nods went to Tony Lashley with 13 total tackles, and Kaden Elliss and Aikeem Coleman with two sacks each. As a unit, the defense limited the Ragin' Cajuns to just 266 total yards.
 
Linehan mixed passes with runs from Duckworth and Brantley – along with a 21-yard scramble of his own, to march the Vandals 75 yards on their first drive. Brantley capped it with a one-yard run with 10:15 to go in the first.
 
The Cajuns responded with a 37-yard field goal two minutes later for a 7-3 Idaho lead with 8:13 to play in the first.
 
Austin Rehkow was successful on his 19^th field goal of the season to give the Vandals a 10-3 lead with 4:51 to go in the first.
 
The Cajuns evened the score at 10 when Anthony Jennings scored from three yards out to cap a 17-play drive with 13:31 to go in first half.
 
Saunders capped the Vandals' next drive with a one-yard push through the right side of the line. He was the playmaker throughout the drive with four carries, including the scoring run, and two pass receptions. With 4:33 left in the first half, Idaho led 17-10.
 
ULL wrapped up the first half with a field goal to leave the Vandals with a 17-13 halftime edge.
 
Rehkow kicked a career-long 50-yard field goal for the only score of the third quarter to send the Vandals into the fourth quarter with a 20-13 lead.