MOSCOW, Idaho – A career day from
Jack Wagner and a big third quarter lifted the No. 13 Idaho Vandals to a 34-29 win over Cal Poly Saturday afternoon at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
Idaho struggled out of the gate, failing to find much footing in the first half. The Vandals scored field goals of 44 yards and 25 yards but couldn't find the end zone before the break. Cal Poly put together two long drives to build a 14-6 lead at the half.
The script would flip in the second. Idaho found the end zone with a touchdown on the first series of the second half. Wagner hit
Mike Martinez in the flat and the tight end powered his way into the end zone, true freshman
Rocco Koch added a two-point conversion on a QB run to tie the game at 14.
Koch added a touchdown run on the next Vandal drive to put Idaho up 20-14, but the PAT was blocked and returned for two points for Cal Poly.
Wagner found
Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar for a 21-yard touchdown with 3:13 left in the third to put Idaho up 27-16 after three and the Vandals added another touchdown, this time to
Jordan Dwyer for 21 yards with 6:11 remaining in the game to extend the lead to 34-16.
Cal Poly added a pair of late touchdowns, but Idaho held on for the five-point win.
Wagner was 17-23 (73.9%) for a career-high 347 yards and career high three touchdown passes.
Mark Hamper caught four passes for a career-high 103 yards. Dwyer caught seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Art Williams racked up 15 carries for 86 yards to lead the Idaho rushing attack.
The Vandal defense held Cal Poly to 77 yards rushing, the third time this season that Idaho held a team under 100 yards on the ground.
Isiah King racked up a 12-yard sack and an interception on batted pass from
Keyshawn James-Newby.
Tommy McCormick has a team-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 TFLs.
Idaho moves to 5-3 on the season with the win while Cal Poly falls to 2-5 on the season.
Idaho is back in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome next week against Eastern Washington Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in the battle for the Che-Scow Cup.
