Two g utsy performances in the national playoffs captured the hearts of fans and skeptics alike as the campus was hit w ith an acute case of
NCAA playoff fever t was a typical late November afternoon in Moscow. The ground was spotted with snow and a chilly breeze blew from the north. But there was something unusual in the air on the campus. Playoff fever had hit and overtaken the students and community in epidemic proportions as the Vandals prepared for their re-match with Montana in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs. And what an opening-round
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Frustration. From the onset of the Eastern Kentucky game, it wa,r. apparant that Idaho was ln for a long night as they fell behind 24-7. But the Vandals didn't give up and almost upended the top-ranked Colonels. Running back Kerry Hlcky, who caught aix passes in the game. watches EKU drive for a touchdown ln the first half. (photo by G. Lande rs)
game it was. The Vandals, behind a wave of emotional performances both offensively and defensively, treated their frenzied home crowd to a 21-7 thumping of the rival Grizzlies. It was a satisfying win for the Vandals and avenged their early-season loss to Montana. "They played their rear ends off and I'm prouder than hell of them," said coach Erickson following the game. It was a hard-hitting, physically played contest and the much-maligned Vandal defense rose to the occasion to tum in their best performance of the season. "They (Montana) said we weren't physical and we got mad," said senior outside linebacker Lloyd Williamson. "We went after them." And while the defense was
making believers out of skeptics, the potent Vandal offense, led by Kenny Hobart's 230 yards passing, wore down the Grizzly defense. Idaho rallied from a 7-6 halftime deficit to score two third quarter touchdowns. The big victory propelled the Vandals to the second round of the playoffs and sent them to Richmond, Kentucky to meet top-ranked, undefeated Eastern Kentucky. The highly-regarded Colonels entered the game as favorites and sported a 29-game winning streak at home. From the opening kickoff it looked as if the Vandals would be blown out. Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a commanding 24-3 lead in the second quarter and held a 24-10 margin at the half. But the Vandals didn't give up. Two third quarter touchdowns brought Idaho to within seven points as they trailed only 31-24 entering the final quarter. EKU came right back to score another touchdown with just over nine minutes remaining to grab a 38-24 lead. The game, however, was far from over. After switching possessions back and forth, the Colonels had the ball and a fourth down with only 2% minutes remaining. But a blocked punt and a 32-yard touchdown return by
The call that ended it all. Head coach Dennis Erickson furioU&ly disputes a call in the closing minutes of Idaho's 38-30 loss to Eastern Kentucky in the national playoffs. The play, ruled an interception by the referee, snuffed out a last-minute drive by the Vandals and ended their dream for a na路 tiona! championship. (photo by G. Landers)
Todd Fryhover brought Idaho right back into the game. The extra point failed and the Vandals trailed only 38-30. A tough defensive stand forced EKU to punt and Idaho found themselves 80 yards from a touchdown with just 1:29 left to play. Quickly Hobart led the Vandals down the field with crisp, sharp passes and, with only 31 seconds showing on the scoreboard clock, Idaho was just 21 yards from a touchdown and a chance for an attempt at a two-point conversion to force a tie game and an overtime. But it was not to be for Idaho as Hobart's next pass was offtarget and apparently intercepted by an EKU defender. The play, which happened right in front of Idaho's bench, sparked a furious uproar from the Vandals, who claimed the ball hit the ground. Later films were to verify Idaho1s complaint and show that the ball had not been intercepted. It's terrible for a guy (the referee) to take these kids' chance away from them in the playoffs," said Erickson. I hate to see it end on something like that. I don't want to take away from them (EKU). They are a damn good football team. I thought the officiating was good until the end. Despite the disappointing end to the Cinderella season, Idaho proved itself in 1982. Picked to finish in seventh place in the conference and often the butt of jokes and criticism, the Vandals worked their way to respectability and national attention. And the laughing stopped. Clint Kendrick 0
National Playoffs
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