Humanitarian Bowl: Vandals grab a wild last-gasp win

BOISE — Max Komar made a sliding 16-yard touchdown catch with 4 seconds left and Nathan Enderle passed to Preston Davis for the 2-point conversion, lifting Idaho to a dramatic 43-42 victory over Bowling Green in Wednesday night's Humanitarian Bowl.

The Falcons took a 42-35 lead with 32 seconds left on a 51-yard pass from Tyler Sheehan to Freddie Barnes, who slipped behind the Idaho secondary for his 17th catch of the game and No. 155 in his record-setting season.

But Idaho answered with a desperation 50-yard pass play from Enderle to Davis that got the ball to the Bowling Green 16. After an incompletion with 8 seconds left, Enderle found Komar — who had dropped a number of passes during the game — in the middle of the field, and he slid in the end zone to cradle the low pass.

Idaho coach Robb Akey then decided to go for the 2-point conversion, and Enderle threw to Davis alone in the back of the end zone.

When the Falcons were tackled on the ensuing kickoff, Vandals fans poured onto the blue turf of their in-state rivals to celebrate the second bowl win in school history.

Idaho's hopes of capping its turnaround from two victories in 2008 to a bowl win in 2009 seemed finished when Barnes struck again in his banner senior season. Needing just five receptions to set an NCAA Bowl Subdivision record, Barnes finished with 17 grabs for 219 yards and three touchdowns, the final one putting Bowling Green in prime position for its fifth victory in its last six postseason trips.

But Komar gave the Vandals decent field position with solid kickoff return and Enderle's long throw landed in the arms of Davis, who finished with four catches for 119 yards. Komar then made his sliding grab and Akey confidently went for the game-winning 2.

"Well, they hadn't been able to stop us. ... Let's do it while we got some momentum," Akey said.

With most of the 26,729 in attendance roaring their approval, Enderle had plenty of time to connect with Davis, setting off a wild, premature celebration. One overly joyous fan ran on the field to the Idaho bench.

Idaho (8-5) was penalized, but Trey Farquhar's kickoff bounced inside the Bowling Green 5 and the fans finally got to celebrate for real when the returner was tackled.

"I tell you what, I love these players ... Don't doubt these players, they'll prove you wrong," Akey said.

The Vandals surged ahead 28-14 in the second half on touchdown runs of 8 and 13 yards by De'Maundray Woolridge, only to see the Falcons rally with 28 of the next 35 points.