Vandals could kick themselves after last-second loss to San Jose State

From wire and news services and local reports 

SAN JOSE, Calif. — With a chance to knock off an FBS foe for the third time in as many seasons, the FCS Idaho Vandals came up just short Saturday. 

The Vandals led by 14 points in the first half, but couldn’t stop San Jose State much over the final three quarters and fell 31-28 to the Spartans before 13,155 at CEFCU Stadium. 

The margin of victory — a 48-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining by Denis Lynch, who had missed all four of his previous field goal attempts this season. 

Late in the first half, on fourth and 2 from the San Jose State 17 and the game tied at 14, Idaho (2-2) sent out Cameron Pope to attempt a 34-yard field goal. Pope had missed two field goals the previous week, and was replaced by Owen Forsman, a redshirt freshman from Lakeland High. 

From the right hash, Pope pulled the field goal try wide left. 

“Owen had really struggled on the right hash and Cameron was a little bit better on the right hash today,” Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. said after the game, as reported by the Lewiston Tribune, “but I do not think that you'll see Cameron Pope moving forward.”

Idaho’s two defeats have both come to FBS opponents, both three-point losses on the road, both on field goals in the final seconds. 

"Very frustrated with the end of the game,” Ford said on the Idaho postgame radio show. “I think the guys are very disappointed, but when you look at the grand scheme of things, we’re 2-2 with two losses by a combined six points to FBS schools. All of our goals are still right there, ready for the taking.” 

Joshua Wood and Art Williams ran for touchdowns as Idaho built a 14-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first half.  

Jabari Bates, who finished with a career-high 131 yards on 11 carries, broke an 87-yard touchdown run to get San Jose State on the board.  

Other than a run-the-clock-out play to end the first half, the Spartans scored on their final five drives of the game. 

Walker Eget completed 13 of his 21 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown for San Jose State, and Danny Scudero hauled in six catches for 130 yards. 

“We didn’t make enough plays,” Ford said. “We knew they were going to throw the football, and we just didn’t make enough plays. We got beat in man coverage. No. 10 (Danny Scudero) was excellent today; he definitely got the best of our secondary in a lot of ways.” 

Wood connected with Ryan Jezioro from 15 yards out to put Idaho up 21-14 in the third quarter. Wood’s 18-yard TD pass to Noah West-Baranco made it 28-21 Vandals with 9:17 remaining.  

But San Jose State answered to tie the game, then forced a three-and-out — the only punt of the second half — and marched to the game-winning kick. 

Wood was 18 for 32 with 204 yards through the air, and added 41 yards on the ground. 

“Joshua continues to get better,” Ford said. “Very excited about the way he played. I thought he did some nice things, both with his legs and through the air. I think you’re seeing him truly develop into the player we think he can be.” 

Idaho opens Big Sky play next Saturday night at Montana (3-0) on ESPN2 for the Little Brown Stein.

“I just think our guys need to understand that everything we want in our program, the opportunity to get into the playoffs, the chance to win the Big Sky, is still there,” Ford said. “These two losses really don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things. We just need to get back to work ... and go have a great game plan, and execute that game plan next week.” 

SAN JOSE ST. 31, IDAHO 28

Idaho    7    7    7    7    —    28

San Jose St.    0    14    7    10    —    31

First Quarter

IDHO_Wood 1 run (Forsman kick), 7:03.

Second Quarter

IDHO_Williams 1 run (Forsman kick), 7:12.

SJSU_Bates 87 run (Lynch kick), 6:53.

SJSU_Shoels 15 pass from Eget (Lynch kick), 1:55.

Third Quarter

IDHO_Jezioro 15 pass from Wood (Forsman kick), 5:11.

SJSU_Chalk 7 run (Lynch kick), 1:51.

Fourth Quarter

IDHO_West-Baranco 18 pass from Wood (Forsman kick), 9:17.

SJSU_Chalk 1 run (Lynch kick), 5:21.

SJSU_FG Lynch 48, :08.

A_13,155.

    IDHO    SJSU

First downs    22    15

Total Net Yards    384    420

Rushes-yards    43-152    26-198

Passing    232    222

Punt Returns    0-0    0-0

Kickoff Returns    2-25    2-23

Interceptions Ret.    0-0    0-0

Comp-Att-Int    18-32-0    13-21-0

Sacked-Yards Lost    1-7    0-0

Punts    3-43.333    2-37.0

Fumbles-Lost    1-1    2-1

Penalties-Yards    9-63    4-50

Time of Possession    39:01    20:59

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Idaho, Williams 18-65, Thomas 15-42, Wood 8-41, Kincheloe 2-4. San Jose St., Bates 11-131, Chalk 11-45, Amisone 3-24, Eget 1-(minus 2).

PASSING_Idaho, Wood 18-32-0-232. San Jose St., Eget 13-21-0-222.

RECEIVING_Idaho, Cortez-Menjivar 5-84, Superales 3-56, Williams 3-17, Jezioro 2-23, Harste 2-18, West-Baranco 1-18, Cox 1-8, McWilliams 1-3. San Jose St., Scudero 6-130, Shoels 3-35, Canaan 2-40, L.Smith 2-17.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_Idaho, Pope 34.