BOISE, Idaho — It was only a matter of time before BG ended up on the other end of a close game.

After squeaking out memorable wins in the final seconds of regular season games against Kent State and Buffalo this season, the Falcons found themselves on the losing end of a last-second comeback in the Humanitarian Bowl Wednesday night, falling to Idaho 43-42.

With 32 seconds left in the game, it appeared the Falcons (7-6) were poised to play the spoilers after senior quarterback Tyler Sheehan hit a wide-open Freddie Barnes in stride on his way to a 51-yard touchdown that put the Falcons ahead by seven.

But after Idaho (8-5) senior Max Komar returned the kick to the 34-yard line, magic happened in Bronco Stadium, the home of Idaho rival Boise State.

Junior quarterback Nathan Enderle heaved a 50-yard ball downfield, which fell through the defense and into the hands of Preston Davis, putting the Vandals on BG’s 16-yard line. After a timeout, Enderle connected with a sliding Komar for a touchdown– Komar’s first catch of the game.

“Nate [Enderle] had faith in me. If I was him, I would’ve stopped throwing to me, making him look bad with the ball bouncing off my chest,” Komar said. “But I’m glad he stuck with me.”

Idaho lined up for a two-point conversion, but BG called a timeout in hopes of getting a read on what the Vandals were trying to do.

“We wanted to see what formation they were going to run up in,” said first-year BG coach Dave Clawson.

BG’s defense came out of the timeout fired up, ready to make their biggest stop of the season. But it wasn’t to be after Enderle hooked up with Davis in the back of the end zone to give the Vandals a one-point lead.

The majority of a frenzied Vandal squad rushed the field, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was enforced on the kickoff, but ultimately, the damage was done.

“We gave them too much time, and the corner didn’t squeeze the route the way he should,” Clawson said.

Knowing it was their last chance to make play in 2009, the defense wanted the chance to step up and make a big play for the team.

“We were actually excited they were going for two,” said junior defensive end Angelo Magnone. “We thought we had an opportunity to win [the game] again.”

Idaho’s freshman kicker Trey Farquhar boomed the kickoff to the BG 2-yard line, but Jahmal Brown was tackled after just 20 yards and the game was over.

And for as quickly as the game’s ending events transpired, the Falcon offense opened the scoring almost as fast, scoring early on a three-play, 1:03 drive on a 35-yard strike to a surprisingly wide-open Barnes.

Barnes would finish the game with Humanitarian Bowl records for receptions (17), receiving yards (219) and receiving touchdowns (3) in helping the Falcons gain 538 yards of offense.

“It was a great game. I’ll just say thanks to all my coaches and all my teammates,” Barnes said. “And Tyler, he’s been unbelievable this year. All the faith he has in me throughout the season has been unbelievable. I can’t do anything but just thank him and give him a lot of credit for what goes on.”

But the Vandals had plenty of fight in them, as they answered back on the next drive, using seven rushes for 75 yards and one 3-yard pass to even the score. Senior tight end Peter Bjorvik was on the receiving end of the pass, and it was his first score of the season.

After having a field goal blocked their next time down the field, BG struck gold at the end of the first quarter, as junior running back Willie Geter ripped off a 59-yard run for a touchdown– the team’s longest scoring play of the season– on the first play of the drive.

Idaho added another touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the score at 14 for halftime.

In the third quarter, the Falcons allowed the Vandals two quick scores to senior running back De’Maundray Woolridge, giving them a 14-point lead.

But there was no quit in the Falcons, as they responded with a touchdown late in third– senior tight end Jimmy Scheidler’s first of the season– and Barnes’ second score early in the fourth.

“I’m proud of our football team. Our players played hard,” Clawson said. “I can’t fault their preparation. They played their hearts out.”

Idaho again responded with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Davis, but that was followed up with a 2-yard touchdown run by Geter, who finished the game with 96 yards on 14 carries.

With the game tied at 35, the drama began as BG stopped the Vandals at the BG 44-yard line with 1:49 left in the game.

Starting on the Idaho 20-yard line after a touchback, Sheehan began using a mix of run and pass to move the Falcons down the field. And with 32 seconds left, he found Barnes for the 51-yard score.

“I love my teammates. I love my coaches. I loved my time in Bowling Green,” Sheehan said.

Twenty-two Falcon careers ended Wednesday night, but each and every one was ended in dramatic style.