"We knew what it felt like to win [the conference championship] at home and there's no better place to do it than here at Fouts tonight," said senior tight end Andy Blount, who had a 42-yard touchdown reception in the game. "The game was a lot closer than 51-29. We knew every time we got back on the field, we needed to score again. They kept scoring. We had our backs against the wall."
Thomas also broke the school's record for most rushing yards in a season (1,680) set by Patrick Cobbs last year. Among other accolades, Thomas tied the NCAA record for most consecutive games with 200 yards (5) set by University of Southern California's Marcus Allen and Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders, both of whom are NFL Hall of Famers.
Thomas opened the scoring for the Mean Green, scoring his first of three touchdowns on a 70-yard burst to the right side.
On its next drive, the Mean Green mixed the run and the pass to score on a four-play drive that ended with a 31-yard touchdown run by Thomas.
But despite taking the lead by two scores four times in the game, the Mean Green defense couldn't finish off the Vandals as Idaho quarterback Michael Harrington kept them in the game, throwing for 328 yards and two touchdowns.
Playing without senior defensive end Adrian Awasom, who was a late scratch for the Mean Green with a bruised quadricep, the defense came up with enough big plays to keep the team ahead. None were bigger than a fourth-quarter interception by freshman linebacker Maurice Holman, who fumbled the return at the Idaho 35-yard line only to see senior cornerback Walter Priestley recover it and return it 18 yards for a touchdown.
"They kept cutting it to a one-score game, but every time they did that, our offense was able to answer," said Mean Green head coach Darrell Dickey. "The offense came together and tonight was probably our best showing."
Freshman defensive end Jeremiah Chapman made his first collegiate start in relief of the injured Awasom and had six tackles and two sacks.
"I was nervous but [Dickey] told me right before we went on the field [I would start] so I didn't really have time to be nervous," Chapman said.
After the game, coaches and players took time to reflect on a season that started so badly but ended with success. They started 0-4 and lost Patrick Cobbs, the nation's defending rushing champion, in the second game against Florida Atlantic.
"I felt we would turn it around," said senior quarterback Scott Hall, who threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns. "I didn't know exactly that we'd be 6-4 but I knew we would win some games and turn it around. At the beginning of the season we had some young guys and they came on, we found number 20 [Thomas] somewhere and we're 6-4 now."
Aside from injuries and a winless start, the team also had to deal with death of quarterback Andrew Smith, who died in a car accident just days before training camp.
"I think a little piece of Andrew Smith is in everyone of these kids' hearts," Dickey said. "They wanted to play well for him."
Spring Break
