Vandals Win The Big West Two-Point Conversion Play In Overtime Defeats Boise State For Conference Crown

Chris Tormey knew - win or lose, genius or goat - “The Call” would become part of lore in the storied history of the Idaho-Boise State rivalry.

“I’m just glad it’s going in on the right side of the ledger,” the Vandals football coach, exhaling, said. “It could have gone the other way.”

Stoked by a vote of confidence from senior running back Joel Thomas, Tormey OK’d a daring two-point conversion play in overtime. Thomas caught John Welsh’s pass in the left flat and followed a wall of three blockers into the end zone for the winning points in Idaho’s heart-stopping 36-35 victory over the Broncos Saturday.

It was hard to tell who was more stunned: BSU’s defense or the record crowd of 30,208 at Bronco Stadium, Vandals fans included.

“Euphoria is the only word I can think of,” Tormey said after the madcap finish to another classic UI-BSU encounter. “I’ve already lost about 80 percent of what I felt on the field. That felt like I was just floating.”

Considering what was at stake for the Vandals - the Big West Conference championship, a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl and, simply, a win over archrival Boise State - the decision to go for two was a gutsy, calculated risk.

Idaho (8-3 overall, 4-1 Big West) will return to Bronco Stadium in the Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 30, probably against Southern Mississippi (7-4). BSU finished 6-5, 2-3.

BSU coach Dirk Koetter entered as Tormey was wrapping up in the interview room. In a classy exchange, Koetter told his counterpart: “That last call was awesome.”

And it would have never happened if Koetter hadn’t called a timeout after Thomas ran for a touchdown, making the score 35-34. Idaho would have just attempted the PAT, but Tormey figured BSU wouldn’t have time to adjust to the specially-designed play in which three running backs line up wide left with Thomas in their shadow.

Just to be sure, Tormey asked Thomas what he thought.

“He was calm. He said, ‘Can we get it?”’ Thomas said. “I said, ‘Let’s win this game right now.”’

The Vandals sprinted back on the field, forcing BSU’s defense to scramble. Thomas caught the ball at the 7 and scored easily.

“I’ll tell you what, you’re going to your best player of all time, some people call Joel legendary,” offensive coordinator Phil Earley said. “We have a lot of confidence in that combination of Welsh to Joel. It’s real gutsy, but they’re all great calls right now.”

The play caught BSU flat-footed, Broncos’ defensive tackle Bobby Setzer said. “They brought in a different personnel group and it caught us off-guard. We did the best we could, but it was kind of a shock that they did that.”

Nearly as shocking as the wild momentum swings during regulation. The biggest came in the third quarter. Leading 14-6, BSU quarterback Bart Hendricks connected on a 60-yard pass to Corey Nelson, who was tackled at the 1. Hendricks gained a foot with a QB sneak. On second down, Eron Hurley, who would finish with 254 yards and two TDs, fumbled. UI’s Chris Nofoaiga recovered in the end zone and returned the ball to the 4.

Idaho marched 96 yards, capped by Thomas’ 44-yard run. Welsh’s keeper on the PAT tied the score 14-14. The drama built in the fourth quarter as each team scored twice. BSU led 21-14 after Hurley’s 75-yard TD run. Idaho answered on a 37-yard Welsh-to-Anderson connection.

Welsh hit Ethan Jones for a 75-yard TD and a 28-21 Idaho lead. Jones caught the ball as cornerback Dempsey Dees slipped and fell and the freshman receiver juked two other Broncos.

BSU answered with Hendricks’ touchdown pass.

With 1:28 remaining, Welsh fumbled after being blindsided by Tyrer Dayton. But BSU gave the ball back on the next play when Hendricks and center Ryan Groneman bungled an exchange.

Idaho moved to BSU’s 23, but Ben Davis’ missed a 41-yard field goal. In overtime, both teams have one series, starting at the defense’s 25. BSU scored on Hendricks’ 10-yard pass to Antwain Wilson. Idaho responded swiftly and shockingly.

Vandals 36, Broncos 35 Idaho 3 3 8 14 8 - 36 Boise State 7 0 7 14 7 - 35

UIFG Davis 38 BSUHurley 46 run (Belcastro kick) UIFG Davis 37 BSUHendricks 4 run (Belcastro kick) UIThomas 44 run (Welsh run) BSUHurley 75 run (Belcastro kick) UIAlderson 37 pass from Welsh (Davis kick) UIJones 75 pass from Welsh (Davis kick) BSUBrekke 2 pass from Hendricks (Belcastro kick) BSUWilson 10 pass from Hendricks (Belcastro kick) UIThomas 2 run (Thomas pass from Welsh) A30,208.

UI BSU First downs 21 27 Rushes-yards 33-161 55-268 Passing 365 268 Comp-Att-Int 21-40-2 15-23-0 Return Yards 27 22 Punts-Avg. 4-41.5 4-38.5 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 5-2 Penalties-Yards 4-40 1-5 Time of Possession 26:18 33:42

RUSHING-Idaho, Jo.Thomas 19-121, Welsh 9-30, Je. Thomas 1-2. Boise State, Hurley 29-254, Hendricks 21-56, Wilson 3-23. PASSING-Idaho, Welsh 20-39-2-326, Jo. Thomas 1-1-0-39. Boise State, Hendricks 15-23-0-268. RECEIVING-Idaho, Alderson 6-97, Prestimonico 6-74, Jones 3-93. Boise State, Wilson 6-54, Putzier 2-46, Brekke 2-23.