Sept. 23, 2000

Box Score| Quotes

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - John Welsh's 1-yard quarterback run with 40 seconds left lifted Idaho to a 38-34 win over Washington State on Saturday.

Washington State (1-2) took a 34-31 lead with 3 minutes left in the game on quarterback Jason Gesser's 7-yard touchdown run.

But Welsh led Idaho on a 57-yard drive in nine plays for the winning points. Washington State's final drive failed.

Welsh completed 22 of 36 passes for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and was intercepted three times. Willie Alderson led Idaho with 113 rushing yards.

Gesser completed 15 of 31 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns.

Idaho's Zach Gerstner run 36 yards up the middle for the game's first touchdown late in the first quarter.

The Cougars marched 80 yards on the next series, capped by Gesser's 31-yard scoring strike to Nakoa McElrath. Nick Lambert's conversion kick was blocked by Ryan Knowles and Idaho led 7-6.

Ben Davis' 50-yard field goal gave Idaho a 10-6 lead with 10:02 left in the half.

Marcus Williams caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Gesser that lifted WSU to a 13-10 lead that stood at halftime.

The Vandals opened the second half with a 73-yard drive capped by Welsh's 3-yard scoring pass to Mike Roberg, for a 17-13 lead.

Welsh was intercepted by Marcus Trufant at midfield, and Gesser handed off to receiver Collin Henderson, who threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Milton Wynn as Washington State took a 20-17 lead with 5:25 left in the third.

The Vandals responded with a 65-yard drive, finished by Alderson's 4-yard touchdown run for a 24-20 Idaho lead with 1:44 left in the third.

Welsh was intercepted by Billy Newman, who ran it back for a touchdown. Lambert's conversion kick missed but Washington State lead 26-24 with 10:59 left in the game.

Welsh replied with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Jones with 7:14 left in the game to lift Idaho to a 31-26 lead.

Then, Washington State running back David Minnich carried five times in a 78-yard drive to set up Gesser's 7-yard dive into the end zone with 3:01 left in the game. Gesser hit Williams for a 2-point conversion that lifted WSU to a 34-31 lead before Idaho's winning drive.

NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press Writer