Petrino, blocked punt help Idaho beat N. Dakota 31-27

Nov 4, 2018, 06:42 am

MOSCOW, Idaho -- Mason Petrino threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Cotton Jr. with 27 seconds left to help Idaho rally for a 31-27 win over North Dakota on Saturday.

Petrino finished 27-of-50 passing for 277 yards and two scores with no interceptions. Cotton had 10 receptions for 137 yards -- both career highs -- and Isaiah Saunders added 97 yards rushing, including a 43-yard touchdown, on 17 carries for Idaho (4-5, 3-4 Big Sky).

Jalen Hoover blocked a punt and freshman tight end Connor Whitney returned it 3 yards for a score to pull the Vandals within three midway through the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged punts until, after three-and-out by North Dakota (5-4, 3-3), Petrino led an 11-play, 57-yard drive -- including a 10-yard pass to David Ungerer on fourth-and-6 -- before Cotton's touchdown catch capped the scoring.

Brady Oliveira had 28 carries for a career-high 190 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Fighting Hawks. Garett Maag had seven catches for 74 yards and two scores, including a 10-yard TD that gave UND a 27-17 lead with 12:37 left.