MOSCOW — Matt Linehan connected with eight different receivers on his way to a season-high 360 passing yards and three touchdowns as Idaho built a big lead before holding on to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 31-23 on Saturday before an announced crowd of 10,705 at the Kibbie Dome.

The Vandals (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt), who snapped a three-game losing streak, ran out to a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter, before using a goal-line stand in the final minute to knock off the Warhawks (3-5, 3-3).

“I was so proud of our team,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am. I think the biggest thing that I’m mostly proud of is they have never quit being a Vandal. They haven’t quit. They showed up to practice harder every day. They grinded every day. They believed in getting better every day. That was a beautiful team win today.”

Idaho scored the first 21 points before ULM struck with a 54-yard passing touchdown to draw back within two scores. The Vandals executed a two-minute drive at the end of the first half, punctuated by an 11-yard passing score from Linehan to Alfonso Onunwor to take a 28-7 advantage headed into the break. It was Idaho’s largest halftime lead since Sept. 18, 2010, when the Vandals hit halftime with a 24-0 lead against UNLV.

Senior running back Aaron Duckworth had 77 rushing yards and a touchdown by halftime and helped keep the clock in Idaho’s favor in the second half. Duckworth finished the day with 113 yards on 23 carries. It is the third 100-yard game of the season for Duckworth, who entered the week as the leading rusher in the Sun Belt.

Cade Coffey, the former Lakeland High standout, connected on a 38-yard field goal to start the scoring in the second half and give Idaho a 31-7 lead. ULM, which entered the game as the second-highest scoring team in the Sun Belt at 36.9 points per game, roared back on the strength of big plays. After scoring 16 unanswered points to make it a one-score game, the Warhawks put together one final drive but Idaho’s defense was up to the challenge in the closing seconds.

ULM marched 69 yards down to the 3-yard line. The Vandals kept the Warhawks out of the end zone on four consecutive plays and took possession on downs with five seconds remaining for Linehan and the offense to kneel out the clock.

“Honestly, when I was coming off the field, it was such a feeling of being proud,” junior linebacker Kaden Elliss said. “I mean, I didn’t make any of the really big plays at the end of the game but my teammates did. Seeing us do that, I was just so proud because I know everybody was tired, that was a long game.”

Elliss paced the Vandals with 10 tackles, including three for loss and one sack. His third and final tackle for loss came on first and goal during Idaho’s game-clinching stand.

Elliss was also among Linehan’s glut of receiving targets. The junior linebacker who moonlights as a tight end and fullback, hauled in a leaping catch in the second quarter, fighting off two would-be tacklers and rumbling for a 45-yard touchdown to give Idaho a 21-0 lead. It is the second week in a row Elliss has notched a receiving touchdown and a sack in the same game. He is the only FBS player in the country to do so this season.

“How about that Kaden Elliss,” Petrino said. “He’s getting sacks. He’s getting tackles for loss. He catches the ball and scores a touchdown. He even runs in on the PAT team when we didn’t have enough guys out there.”

David Ungerer also carried over a strong performance from last week. After catching two touchdowns at Missouri, Ungerer caught five balls for 71 yards, including a 29-yard score. The reception and yardage totals are single-game career highs.

Caleb Evans threw for 415 yards and 3 scores for the Warhawks, who have lost three straight.

La-Monroe 0 7 6 10 — 23

Idaho 14 14 3 0 — 31

First Quarter

IDA—Ungerer 26 pass from Ma.Linehan (Coffey kick), 11:39

IDA—Duckworth 6 run (Coffey kick), 8:12

Second Quarter

IDA—K.Elliss 45 pass from Ma.Linehan (Coffey kick), 7:06

ULM—Gillespie 54 pass from Evans (C.Ford kick), 5:36

IDA—Onunwor 11 pass from Ma.Linehan (Coffey kick), :17

Third Quarter

IDA—FG Coffey 38, 8:46

ULM—B.Williams 26 pass from Evans (run failed), 5:19

Fourth Quarter

ULM—FG C.Ford 32, 11:17

ULM—Gore 13 pass from Evans (C.Ford kick), 5:51

A—10,705.

ULM IDA

First downs 25 27

Rushes-yards 29-113 39-158

Passing 400 360

Comp-Att-Int 24-37-1 28-42-0

Return Yards 62 30

Punts-Avg. 2-43.0 4-34.75

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 2-15 5-56

Time of Possession 25:42 34:18

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Louisiana-Monroe, Evans 16-62, Gore 9-21, Be.Luckett 2-20, D.Carter 1-7, Green 1-3. Idaho, Duckworth 23-113, Saunders 14-52, (Team) 1-(minus 1), Ma.Linehan 1-(minus 6).

PASSING—Louisiana-Monroe, Evans 24-37-1-400. Idaho, Ma.Linehan 28-42-0-360.

RECEIVING—Louisiana-Monroe, B.Williams 8-145, R.Turner 3-50, Gore 3-39, Gillespie 2-71, Be.Luckett 2-25, Green 2-1, McCray 1-32, Pederson 1-26, D.Carter 1-12, Jenkins 1-(minus 1). Idaho, Onunwor 7-79, Sannon 6-78, Ungerer 5-71, Duckworth 3-18, Mwehla 2-46, Saunders 2-14, Petrino 2-9, K.Elliss 1-45.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Louisiana-Monroe, C.Ford 48.