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Idaho Football

Idaho Vandals overwhelmed by Missouri Tigers, 68-21

Idaho defensive back Armond Hawkins, right, defends a pass intended for Missouri wide receiver Johnathon Johnson (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
Idaho defensive back Armond Hawkins, right, defends a pass intended for Missouri wide receiver Johnathon Johnson (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
Staff report

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Idaho Vandals gave Missouri a brief scare. But any concerns about a homecoming upset were quickly swept away in a record-setting tide of scoring. The Tigers crushed Idaho 68-21.

Missouri (2-5) set a school record for points scored in a quarter with 34 in the first period and in a half, when the Tigers led 51-14.

“They won some one-on-one match ups and they out coached us at times,” Vandals coach Paul Petrino said after the rout.

“They were a way better team than we were today.”

Idaho’s Armond Hawkins intercepted a pass on the first play of the game and Matt Linehan threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Elliss four plays later, putting the Vandals up 7-0.

After the opening interception, Missouri quarterback Drew Lock completed 23 of 33 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam caught three of those touchdowns on passes over the middle that Idaho (2-5) was unable to stop all day. J’Mon Moore led Missouri with 11 receptions for 174 yards and also caught a touchdown from Lock.

After the Tigers rallied from their only deficit on their second series, capping a five-play 79-yard drive with a 19-yard scoring pass to Okwuegbunam, Missouri forced Idaho to go three and out. Richard Floyd took Cade Coffey’s punt on a big hop and returned it 85 yards to the end zone for a 14-7 Missouri lead.

The Tigers ran their lead to 37-7 before Idaho could mount a legitimate drive. The Vandals moved 75 yards in 17 plays, eating up 8:43, and Linehan completed the drive on third down from the eight-yard line with a touchdown pass to David Ungerer. It was one of two touchdowns Ungerer caught. The second came with less than a minute to play when Ungerer teamed up for a 10-yard score with his old Pullman High School quarterback, Mason Petrino, who was brought in on the final series.

Idaho’s starting center Connor Vrba was injured and did not play. Zion Dixon moved over from guard to replace him, and freshman Maxim Moore got his first start at guard. “We have been young on the offensive line anyway, then we’ve got two new guys playing the whole game,” Petrino said.

Linehan was under constant pressure and sacked six times. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 139 yards and the two touchdowns. Alfonso Onunwor led the Vandals with eight catches for 89 yards. Idaho’s Aaron Duckworth, the Sun Belt Conference leading rusher, managed 74 yards on 13 carries.