ISU (1-3) overcame four interceptions to win its first game of the season and snap UNC's 16-game home winning streak. Unranked Northern Colorado (1-2), which lost at Maine 38-0 two weeks ago, comes to Missoula on Saturday to play the No. 7 Montana Grizzlies (2-1).
"What this shows me is the guts and belief of our kids," ISU coach Larry Lewis told the Idaho State Journal. "This gives us confidence. It's something to build on."
"There's no excuse for that," said UNC coach Kay Dalton. "Our kids know they have to go and down a punt. It was a punt, not a great punt, but you have to go down the ball."
Besides the punting mistakes, UNC had a 29-yard field goal nullified by an illegal formation penalty, then missed the second try.
ISU quarterback Mark Hetherington continued his mistake-prone play, throwing three interceptions. But he also passed for 363 yards and four TDs. His 13-yard strike to Akilah Lacey with 25 seconds left in regulation tied the score at 42-42, capping a 14-play, 95-yard drive. After neither team scored in the first overtime, Hetherington connected on a 9-yarder to Lacey, putting ISU ahead 49-42. UNC's last chance slipped from the hands of receiver Jamar Forbes, who was hit by ISU's Marcell Lagrone and fumbled into the end zone where James recovered.
ISU gave up 446 total yards to a UNC team that hadn't scored a touchdown in its first two games. All-America receiver Vincent Jackson had eight catches for 127 yards and a TD to lead the Bears, and also had an 85-yard TD punt return called back when officials ruled he stepped out of bounds at the UNC 43-yard line. UNC running back Andre Wilson rushed for 188 yards and a TD on 32 carries.
Idaho State opens the Big Sky Conference schedule Saturday at Eastern Washington (1-2), which scored TDs on its first five possessions in a 39-8 thumping of Division II Central Washington.
The Eagles committed 18 penalties for 203 yards, 3 yards shy of the Big Sky record.
"Last week we had two penalties, the week before that six," EWU coach Paul Wulff said in a press release. "I'm very disappointed, but I don't want to take away from our win or anything away from everything else."
The other Big Sky opener will match Weber State (0-3) at No. 23 Northern Arizona (0-2).
While the Lumberjacks had a bye last weekend, Weber State dropped a 31-29 decision to visiting UC Davis. Weber rallied from a 28-10 halftime deficit, but failed to make the key fourth-quarter plays that would've secured its first victory.
Weber State gave up TDs of 84, 85 and 65 yards to the visitors from California, and botched a punt that set up the short field goal that put the Aggies ahead for good, 31-29, with five minutes remaining.
"They're teasing me," Weber coach Jerry Graybeal told the Ogden Standard-Examiner. "We left too many points out there in the second half. I mean, give me a break. Make some plays."
Montana State is still ranked in the Top 25, but the No. 21 Bobcats' offensive woes continued to mount in a 27-14 home loss to No. 15 Cal Poly. MSU (1-1), which defeated Division II Adams State 19-0 in a sluggish opener, stalled repeatedly against a firm Cal Poly defense.
MSU missed a pair of short field-goal attempts, and quarterback Travis Lulay was just 17 of 38 passing for 162 yards with two key interceptions. The Bobcats' inexperienced receivers had several drops, but Lulay also had his share of poor throws.
The Bobcats weren't too swift on the ground either, netting 86 rushing yards on 39 carries.
"My concern is about the passing game," MSU coach Mike Kramer told the Great Falls Tribune, "because if we can't pass, we have to start manufacturing (the running game) out of some other different personnel groups."
MSU hasn't been able to find replacements for playmakers such as Scott Turnquist and Junior Adams, who made Lulay's job a lot easier the past two years. That could make for an ugly game Saturday, when the Cats travel to Division I-A Colorado State.
"That next generation of receivers has not yet put their firm stamp of approval on this game," Kramer said. "There's no go-to guy, no guy making an outstanding play on a consistent basis."
MSU's normally salty defense had a tough day too, particularly after linebacker Nick Marudas went down with a season-ending broken leg. Cal Poly finished with 367 yards, and chewed up MSU's interior on a decisive 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
"We were a little tired on that last drive, but it's no excuse," said linebacker Roger Cooper, who led MSU with nine tackles. "Nick (Marudas) going down, he was a big part of stopping that (fullback) dive, so that really didn't help us. It was a little discouraging."
Sacramento State snapped an eight-game losing streak, riding the pass-catch combo of Ryan Leadingham and Fred Amey to a 23-17 victory over visiting Southern Utah.
Leadingham bounced back from a 78-yard passing effort in a 59-7 season-opening loss to Nevada. The senior, who missed much of last season with a broken arm, threw for 220 yards. Amey had eight catches for 158 yards and two TDs, including a 50-yard catch-and-sprint for the winning score with 5:46 left.
"This is better than I've felt in a long time," Leadingham told the Sacramento Bee. "I feel like hell, but winning makes everything good again."
Regular running back Tyronne Gross couldn't play because of a tender hamstring, but freshman Ryan Mole rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries. Another freshman, defensive back Brent Webber, recovered a fumble to seal the win with just over two minutes remaining.
Surprise, surprise. No. 19-ranked Fresno State, considered a possible BCS Bowl contender, built a 24-7 halftime lead over Portland State, but wound up winning just 27-17. PSU held Fresno to fewer points than the Bulldogs scored in wins over Washington and Kansas State.
The Vikings forced three turnovers - scoring touchdowns after two of them - and finished with 276 yards of offense.
"We played hard just like we did here last year," PSU coach Tim Walsh told the Portland Oregonian. "We made a few mistakes that cost us early in the game, but we had a good second half all around."
Quick kicks: Sacramento State's Fred Amey has a reception in each of the 33 games he's played as a Hornet. He eclipsed 3,000 career yards against Southern Utah. ... Mitch Lively's 32-yard field goal was the first for a Sac State kicker since September of 2003. ... Cal Poly has defeated Montana State six straight times. Cal Poly won despite 13 penalties for 152 yards. ... Weber sophomore Mike Mathis earned a start against UC Davis and responded with five catches for 134 yards. Weber senior Jeff Fowler, tabbed as the new starter, passed for 300 yards, two TDs and three interceptions. ... Idaho State was 11-of-19 on third-down conversions in the win over Northern Colorado. The Bengals had two fourth-down conversions; they had only one all of last season.
Reporter Rial Cummings can be reached at 523-5255 or rcummings@missoulian.com
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