Vandals fall in OT at Virginia
UPDATED
There would be no repeat of the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl for the Idaho Vandals at Virginia. They tied the game in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but Robb Akey's call to go for two and win the game in the first overtime backfired in a 21-20 loss. After Virginia started overtime with a touchdown, Idaho responded with a beautiful pass from Brian Reader to Armauni Johnson for a TD. But on the two-point conversion play, Reader was pressured and had to backpedal. His desperation pass to Michael LaGrone landed incomplete and the game was over.
Idaho is now 1-4 on the year. Read below for more.
*****
The Vandals lost in painful fashion. But the way they spoke afterward, today's performance could be the key to a revived season. Consider:
- With the team on the way back to Moscow, runnings backs coach Jason Gesser tweeted, "Man we should've won tonight. Heartbreaker in OT. I truly feel this will be the turning point this year."
- QB Brian Reader, who completed 17 of 41 passes, said after the loss, "There is no reason why we can't go out and win the rest of our games this season. We've got the rest of the WAC and one out of conference, so there is no reason why we can't end the season 8-4. We've just got to get things going and got to start winning."
- Then there's Robb Akey: "I'm very disappointed we did not get the job finished here tonight, but I'm proud as hell of this football team and the way that they fought. I'm not happy because I felt like we had the opportunity. We went for the win. That is what we came here to do. I'm proud of the fact that we are gaining ground and I'm anxious to move forward."
The Vandals showed some encouraging signs in the loss. The defense, after giving up back-to-back touchdown drives in the first quarter, shut out the Cavaliers for the last three quarters of regulation. UI had three sacks -- one more than the first four games combined. And it had three forced turnovers against an UVa offense that alternated between quarterbacks and didn't take advantage of ample opportunities to expand its lead.
Special teams for Idaho also made a difference. Justin Hernandez and Daniel Micheletti combined to block and return a punt for a touchdown, helping set up a two-point conversion and a tie ballgame at 14-all. Before that, Idaho defensive end Chuck Smith blocked a field goal. Meanwhile, Trey Farquhar made two field goals and Bobby Cowan did a nice job punting. Which leads to my next point ...
... The Vandals' offense still remains very much a work in progress. Cowan punted nine times. Idaho rushed for 103 yards but managed just 3.3 yards per carry. Reader threw a crippling interception in the end zone after Idaho had driven to the UVa 5-yard line in the fourth quarter -- and he threw another INT on the next possession.
The Vandals' only offensive touchdown came in OT, and it was a bit of a prayer from Reader to Johnson. "It's funny how sometimes things work out in football," Reader said. "You can work on things in practice, but when something unexpected like that comes up, you just have to throw the ball up. You hope your great receiver will make a great play; that's what he's there for, and that's what happened."
Much will be made about Akey's decision to go for two at the end of the first OT. But it shouldn't come as a surprise knowing the coach's gambling mentality (plus, the Vandals were on the road and were right there despite being a 161/2-point underdog). "It's a done deal. No doubt about it," Akey said when asked about the decision.
NOTES -- UI's defensive superlatives came without defensive end Benson Mayowa, who injured his knee in practice last week and is expected to miss at least one more game after today. ... Linebacker Conrad Schedit was ejected after collecting a personal foul penalty for "striking" an opposing player right after a play ended in the second half. ... Both times Reader has attempted more than 40 passes this year, his completion percentage has been under 50 percent. He was 19 of 43 against Bowling Green in the opener. ... The Vandals take on Lousiana Tech for homecoming in Moscow next week. Both teams are 1-4. ... Three of the Vandals' top four tacklers on the day were defensive backs (safeties Quin Ashley and Gary Walker and CB Matthew Harvey). ... The Vandals still don't have a sack from a defensive end this year.