Idaho enjoyed a default home field advantage in the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl against Bowling Green at Boise’s Bronco Stadium. But with 32 seconds left, it looked as though the Vandals would be sending their fans home disappointed following a backbreaking, 51-yard TD reception by Falcons WR Freddie Barnes to make it 42–35.
The Vandals’ response: Never fear! Nathan Enderle is here!
On the first play of Idaho’s subsequent drive, the junior QB hit teammate Preston Davis for a 50-yard gain, moving the ball from the Vandals’ 34-yard line to Bowling Green’s 16 in one fell swoop. Two plays later, Enderle hit Max Komar for a 16-yard scoring strike to make it 42–41 with four seconds left.
But rather than send out the PAT unit, then-Vandals coach Robb Akey opted to go for two. Enderle rewarded Akey’s boldness, finding Davis in the back of the end zone and delivering a wild 43–42 win — Idaho’s second bowl victory ever.
A four-year starter with the Vandals, Enderle ended his career as the school’s all-time leader in pass attempts (1,427) in addition to throwing for 10,084 yards and 74 TDs. A fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFL Draft, Enderle is currently a free agent after a two-month offseason stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars this past summer.
The 2012 edition of the bowl game in which Enderle starred, now known as the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, takes place this Saturday and pits Toledo against Utah State.
