Aztecs Appear Tough Without Their Stars Idaho Visits San Diego State To Test Wac Division Favorites

If you’re searching for differences between the Idaho and San Diego State football teams, turn this scenario around.

San Diego State, which entertains the Vandals tonight at 6 at Jack Murphy Stadium, will play without Heisman Trophy candidate George Jones, All-American receiver candidate Will Blackwell and All-American cornerback candidate Ricky Parker. The three have been suspended for the Aztecs’ opener for violating NCAA rules.

Imagine if Idaho had to play without, say, quarterback Ryan Fien, who threw for 542 yards in last week’s loss to Wyoming; wide receiver Robert Scott, who had 12 catches; and linebacker Ryan Phillips, himself an All-America candidate.

Think UI would be favored by 13 points? San Diego State is, which provides an indication that the Aztecs, favored to win the Western Athletic Conference’s Pacific Division, have quality depth.

“It’s (suspensions) a good thing for us, but I think they have very, very, very capable backups,” said Idaho defensive coordinator Nick Holt. “In fact, I know they do.”

Exit Jones, who ran for 1,842 yards in 1995, breaking former Aztec Marshall Faulk’s WAC record. Enter Justin Watson, a 225-pound junior, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry. His hobby? Lifting weights.

Exit Blackwell’s 86 catches and 1,207 receiving yards a year ago. Enter LeAndrew Childs, a former JC All-American.

Exit Parker, who had six interceptions last season. Enter James Heggins, who has transferred from BYU to Pacific to San Diego State. In high school, he ran the 100 meters in 10.7.

Still, Idaho shouldn’t be overmatched - if last week’s 40-38 loss to Wyoming, rated No. 2 behind San Diego State in the WAC’s Pacific Division, is an indication.

“We haven’t been able to give Wyoming as good a game as they have,” said San Diego State coach Ted Tollner, whose team lost to Wyoming 34-31 last year with the WAC title on the line.

Wyoming, however, doesn’t have San Diego State’s team speed. And Wyoming’s offense isn’t as diverse.

“This Az (Hakim, an Aztec wide receiver) is supposed to run a 4.41 (seconds over 40 yards) and it looks like he can,” Idaho coach Chris Tormey said.

Tormey worries about his players’ focus.

“So many of our players are from California and have family members there,” he said. “At Wyoming, we were pretty focused. There wasn’t much else to do.”

UI’s two main areas of concern entering the season were the offensive line and the secondary. The line allowed only two sacks as Fien attempted 58 passes, but his rushers averaged just 3.4 yards per attempt.

The secondary was half good, half bad. Holt was pleased with the play of cornerbacks Arnold Gunn and Ryan McGinnis. The safeties and linebackers, however, were victimized as Wyoming rang up 485 passing yards.

“We got confused,” Holt said. “A lot of that was linebackers taking poor drops, and we’ve got to get better safety position.”

The Aztecs are difficult to defend, Holt said, because they can play smash-mouth or finesse. Additionally, the Aztecs don’t use a huddle, which will make defensive substitutions difficult.

San Diego State, meanwhile, must deal with Fien and the capable receiving hands of Scott, Antonio Wilson and David Griffin.

“They’ve got a 300-pound nose guard, so we’ll have to see how it goes,” Tormey said. “We have to mix it up. We can’t throw it 80 times.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Vandals at San Diego State