Vandals close out careers of seniors with victory over Texas State

MOSCOW, Idaho – The last play of Quinton Bradley’s Idaho career was similar to many that came before. He came around the edge and punished the quarterback, flattening Texas State’s Tyler Jones just as he released the football.

The feeling that came afterward is something that was noticeably lacking in his five-year stay in Moscow.

Assured victory.

Safety Russell Siavii picked off Jones’ deep pass over the middle with 10 seconds left. The victory formation followed.

“ ‘Thank god,’ ” he thought. “We came out with a win.”

Idaho knocked off Texas State 38-31 Saturday at the Kibbie Dome, a win that meant much more to Idaho than just sending the seniors out with a victory.

It meant a fourth win, more wins than the last three seasons combined. It meant Bradley, and other seniors, believe they are leaving a once-decrepit program in a better place than they found it.

“It was good, because I was a part of the program with the 1-11, the 1-11 and the 1-11,” Bradley said. “Being 4-8 as a senior is progress. It’s hard to come from that. For us to trust in coach (Paul) Petrino and accept his philosophy through the years, it’s good.”

Seniors stamped their mark all over this win.

Marc Millan smashed Texas State running back Tyler Siudzinski for a four-yard loss on the goal line trying to stretch a 4th-and-inches play into the end zone. What ensued was an 18-play, 95-yard scoring drive keyed by guard Dallas Sandberg and fullback Jake Manley plowing the way for Elijhaa Penny.

The latter two put the finishing touches on the win in appropriate fashion.

The Bobcats were the fortunate recipient of a muffed punt after Idaho’s defense forced Texas State into two third-down stops in the fourth quarter. The ensuing touchdown tied it at 31.

The Vandals responded in a way that past Idaho teams probably wouldn’t have, showing the future while also giving the seniors a chance to shine.

Quarterback Matt Linehan and Deon Watson connected on a SportsCenter-worthy deep ball when Linehan put it perfectly on Watson’s back shoulder as the Coeur d’Alene native stuck out his right hand and controlled the ball on his way inside the 5-yard line for 37 of Linehan’s 309 passing yards.

Penny was led by a blocking caravan led by fellow senior Manley two plays later for the first game-winning touchdown of his career.

“Throughout all offseason we talked about making plays and just contributing to the offense and bringing a physical rushing attack to the team,” Penny said. “Seeing him lead me to the end zone, it was a great feeling.”

While Penny, Manley and Sandberg will be missed on offense, the Vandals return every other starter from an offense that put up 508 yards on Saturday and 185 points in the last five contests.

“We’ve all known it, we’ve known it inside this building, we see it every day, we know how much we’ve improved,” Petrino said, sitting next to his youngest daughter Ava as he’s done after every home win of his tenure. “ … We’re in the right direction, we’ve just got to keep improving, keep getting better, have a great recruiting year and do an awesome job in the offseason of working out and getting bigger and stronger and just excited. It just gets you excited for the future.”