MOSCOW - It can be said that every close game comes down to one play.

But which one? When was it?

For Idaho, there were plays scattered throughout the four quarters and two overtimes that the Vandals and Utah State played Saturday afternoon before an announced crowd of 8,216 at the Kibbie Dome.

The Aggies eventually prevailed, 49-42, in the drama that seemed never ending - particularly for Vandal fans who have watched their team fall by one score or less in five of their last seven games.

The second overtime ended on an interception of a Brian Reader pass by Bobby Wagner. That was one play the Vandals would like to have back. But there were two penalties in the final drive of regulation that pushed Idaho out of the reach of a field goal and a field goal that smacked the left upright of the goal post. There were big runs, big returns, big plays.

“Exciting,” Idaho coach Robb Akey said as he greeted the media after the game. “Terrible ending.”

The Vandals were driving at the end of regulation with the chance to take the lead in the waning seconds, but first an unsportsmanlike conduct call and then a hold pushed them back to the Utah State 43. After an Idaho punt, the Aggies took a knee to end regulation.

Idaho had the first overtime possession and scored when Korey Toomer, the Vandals’ short-yardage fullback but full-time linebacker, punched through from the 2. Trey Farquhar’s kick was good for the 42-35 lead.

Utah State matched the TD on its first OT possession when Robert Turbin, who became the first back to go for more than 200 yards against the Vandals since October 2009 with his 208, scored from 1 yard out to tie the game at 42.

The Aggies had the ball first to start the next overtime — and again it was Turbin, this time from 2 yards out.

The Vandals, thanks to a diving Daniel Micheletti catch and the effective legs of Kama Bailey, made it to the Utah State 2 when it was their turn in overtime. But a 1-yard loss and a delay of game penalty pushed them back to the Aggie 8 to set up the final pass.

“We were awful close to pulling that off,” Akey said. “It was an exciting football game but with an ending that wasn’t worth a darn. Those two teams played their hearts out out there.

“We needed to play a little better; make one more play.”

Adam Kennedy was 13 of 18 for 182 yards and an interception for the Aggies.

As painful as the loss was, there were highlights for the Vandals. One was Toomer, who scored more rushing touchdowns than any Vandal since DeMaundray Woolridge went for four against Hawaii in 2009, with his three short-yardage bursts.

Senior safety Quin Ashley romped 78 yards to score on an interception and Bailey powered his way for 110 yards.

Defensively, senior linebacker Tre`Shawn Robinson was a one-man wrecking crew with 20 total tackles and one forced fumble. Ashley also reached double digits with 10 and junior safety Gary Walker had 12.

Still, the Vandals are left lamenting this one that got away.

“We were just on the wrong end of the shootout,” said quarterback Brian Reader, who had his best game of the year with 275 yards on 27 of 39 passing with his lone interception the final throw of the game.

“We came out. We fought hard,” Toomer said. “It hurt.”

Utah St. 7 14 7 7 7 7 —49

Idaho 7 3 18 7 7 0 —42

First Quarter

USU_Smith 1 run (J.Thompson kick), 10:37.

Id_M.Scott 13 pass from Reader (Farquhar kick), 2:37.

Second Quarter

USU_Van Leeuwen 3 pass from Kennedy (J.Thompson kick), 14:54.

USU_Turbin 80 run (J.Thompson kick), 10:13.

Id_FG Farquhar 23, 2:23.

Third Quarter

Id_FG Farquhar 23, 10:08.

Id_Ashley 78 interception return (Elmo pass from Reader), 8:19.

USU_Morrison 63 pass from Kennedy (J.Thompson kick), 6:56.

Id_Toomer 1 run (Farquhar kick), 3:38.

Fourth Quarter

USU_Smith 7 run (J.Thompson kick), 13:09.

Id_Toomer 1 run (Farquhar kick), 9:14.

First Overtime

Id_Toomer 2 run (Farquhar kick).

USU_Turbin 1 run (J.Thompson kick).

Second Overtime

USU_Turbin 2 run (J.Thompson kick).

A_8,216.

USU Id

First downs 21 26

Rushes-yards 52-310 53-175

Passing 182 275

Comp-Att-Int 13-18-1 27-39-1

Return Yards 1 92

Punts-Avg. 3-43.7 4-44.8

Fumbles-Lost 5-3 4-1

Penalties-Yards 7-75 10-87

Time of Possession 21:31 53:29

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Utah St., Turbin 24-208, Smith 15-58, Kennedy 7-39, K.Williams 4-9, Team 1-0, Jacobs 1-(minus 4). Idaho, Bailey 23-110, McCarty 9-27, R.Bass 6-15, Toomer 8-15, Reader 7-8.

PASSING_Utah St., Kennedy 13-18-1-182. Idaho, Reader 27-39-1-275.

RECEIVING_Utah St., Morrison 3-83, Van Leeuwen 3-40, Austin 3-26, Jacobs 1-17, Lloyd 1-9, K.Williams 1-6, Tialavea 1-1. Idaho, M.Scott 6-55, Bailey 5-49, LaGrone 3-63, Micheletti 3-30, McRoyal 3-2, Veltung 2-49, Weaver 1-7, Elmo 1-5, Grymes 1-5, Hatchett 1-5, McCarty 1-5.