‘Finding a way to win,’ Idaho Vandals prevail in OT to advance to FCS quarterfinals

One year ago, the University of Idaho’s playoff hopes came to an end when a potential game-tying field goal attempt went wide left as time expired.

Ricardo Chavez got his redemption Saturday night.

The senior kicker put a 29-yard field goal through the uprights in overtime, sending the fourth-seeded Idaho football team to a 20-17 victory over Southern Illinois in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

Idaho (9-3) will host No. 5 Albany (10-3) — a 41-13 winner over Richmond — in the FCS quarterfinals next week. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain time Saturday, Dec. 9.

“I’m very, very proud of this team to be one of the top eight teams in the country,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said during a postgame interview on ESPN2. “I don’t know if I could’ve imagined that when I took this job two years ago.”

Hosting a postseason game for the first time in 30 years, the Vandals needed a series of big plays in the final minutes of regulation and overtime to advance to the FCS quarterfinals — then the 1-AA playoffs — for the first time since 1993.

Idaho’s comeback bid began with a 1-yard touchdown dive from sophomore running back Anthony Woods. Chavez nailed the ensuing PAT to tie the score at 17-17 with 4:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Southern Illinois quarterback Nic Baker was able to drive the Salukis down to the Idaho 24-yard line, setting up kicker Jake Baumgarte’s 41-yard field goal attempt with 3 seconds remaining in regulation. But Idaho freshman linebacker Xe’ree Alexander blocked the kick to force overtime.

“That was our motivation all week was you try to earn another week with your brothers,” Eck said. “I think this team really enjoys being around each other and spending time with each other and they really care about each other.”

In overtime, each team begins its possession at the opposing squad’s 25-yard line and attempts to score.

The Salukis got the ball first, but the Idaho defense was ready. Redshirt junior cornerback Marcus Harris intercepted Baker on the third play of the drive, handing the ball over to the Vandals’ offense needing only a field goal to win.

The Kibbie Dome erupted on Idaho’s first play of OT when Woods darted down the left sideline and appeared to score. Officials ruled Woods had stepped out at the SIU 9-yard line, though, and an unsportmanlike penalty after the play pushed the ball back to the 24.

Despite the setback, Idaho was already well within field-goal range for Chavez, whose career long is 53 yards.

Woods carried the ball four more times on the drive, but Eck eventually sent out his field-goal unit after quarterback Gevani McCoy was sacked for a 2-yard loss on third-and-6 from the SIU 9.

Southern Illinois called a timeout just as Chavez lined up for the game-winning field goal. Chavez remained unaffected, connecting on the biggest kick of his collegiate career.

“Glory to God. It’s timing,” Chavez said. “Maybe last year wasn’t my time. It wasn’t the time he had for me and you know what? He said, ‘Now it’s that time.’ And he prepared me all year long. When no one watched, that’s when you grind and that’s where it shows, you know, Saturday nights.”

On a night when the Vandals were limited to a season-low 287 total yards by one of the best defenses in all of FCS, it was special teams that proved the difference. Chavez made field goals of 40 and 29 yards, redshirt senior Jermaine Jackson returned a punt 86 yards for a score and Alexander’s blocked kick sent the game to overtime.

“I think we showed a lot of character and perseverance and we battled,” Eck said. “It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but that’s the playoffs. There’s no style points in the playoffs, either you advance or you don’t. Credit to our guys for battling and finding a way to win.”