Petrino, Idaho use hot start, top Eastern Washington 35-27

MOSCOW, Idaho -- Mason Petrino threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and Idaho defeated Eastern Washington 35-27 on Saturday.

Aundre Carter also rushed for two touchdowns, capping long first-quarter drives between these Big Sky Conference rivals in a game that doesn't count in the league standings.

Petrino had an 8-yard touchdown pass to Cutrell Haywood and scored on a 20-yard scamper in the second quarter as the Vandals (2-2) dominated the first half. Idaho had a 329-103 advantage in total offense and held the ball 13 minutes longer. The Eagles (1-3) had two turnovers and were 0 for 4 on third-down conversions.

Eastern Washington, which had won three-straight in the series, got back into the game with two short touchdown runs by quarterback Eric Barriere. However, the Eagles were stymied on first-and-goal from the 1 in-between Barriere's scores and after the second touchdown Petrino capped another long drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Cotton for a 35-13 lead with 7:59 to play.

Barriere capped two long drives with scoring passes but the Eagles couldn't come up with the onside kick with 45 seconds left in the game.

Idaho finished with 463 yards with Petrino going 22 of 31 for 240. Cotton had 10 catches for 110 yards.

Eastern Washington had 357 yards in the second half, scoring on four of five possessions. Barriere was 28 of 46 for 365 yards with Dre Dorton making seven catches for 133 yards.