The joy of six: Johnson rushes for school-record six TDs as Vandals win on senior day

From wire and news services and staff reports

MOSCOW — Coming into Saturday, senior Roshaun Johnson had rushed for five touchdowns total in his Idaho Vandal career.

He surpassed that total in three hours.

Johnson rushed for a school-record six touchdowns as the Vandals celebrated senior day with a 42-24 Big Sky Conference football victory over Southern Utah in the Vandals’ home finale before 6,082 at the Kibbie Dome.

The 6-foot, 235-pound Johnson scored on runs of 16, 3, 2 and 1 yards in the first half for Idaho (3-6, 2-4 Big Sky) to tie the school record. He scored from 10 yards out in the third quarter and from 9 yards out in the fourth.

And, like any good running back, Johnson was quick to praise his offensive linemen afterward.

“The offensive line, they just kept getting stronger and stronger throughout the entire evening,” he said. “They were getting to that next level; they were doing all the work up front to take care of all those big dudes that were trying to wrap up on me, and let me get up to that next level.

“I give all the applause to the offensive linemen,” Johnson continued. “I told them tomorrow, I’m coming in before practice and I’m bringing them dozens of doughnuts. They’re going to get all of the love and the praise, because they’re not in here doing the press conference, and they should be. Those are the guys that are the real heroes of this game.”

Johnson finished with 174 yards on 30 carries for Idaho.

Coming into Saturday, he had 201 rushing yards total this season with four touchdowns.

His six TDs are the most in a single game in Division I this season, FBS or FCS.

Idaho scored on its first two drives for a 14-0 lead. Southern Utah (1-9, 0-7) answered with a touchdown, then were back in scoring range after the Vandals muffed a punt. But Idaho’s defense came up big inside the 5-yard line, and the Thunderbirds, in their last season in the Big Sky before joining the Western Athletic Conference next season, had to settle for a field goal.

Idaho kept its lead the rest of the game.

Senior Mike Beaudry, the UConn transfer, completed 16 of 23 passes for 217 yards for Idaho.

Senior Terez Traynor caught six passes for 90 yards. Elisha Cummings ran for 99 yards on 13 carries for the Vandals, who out-gained Southern Utah 492-338 in total yards.

Senior Charles Akanno tallied three sacks — all on one drive — and six tackles for loss, including a forced fumble on a strip-sack. Junior linebacker Tre Walker had 12 total tackles and a pair of pass breakups.

Justin Miller threw for 301 yards and a score for the Thunderbirds, who have lost seven straight.

The Vandals conclude the season with a pair of road games, this Saturday at Montana State and Nov. 20 at Idaho State.