Thomas Helps Idaho’s Gold Run Past Silver

Joel Thomas rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown Friday night in leading the Gold team to a 28-13 win over the Silver as the University of Idaho wrapped up spring football practice with its annual Silver-Gold Game in the Kibbie Dome.

Thomas averaged almost 9 yards per carry and scored on a 3-yard run in the second period to help the Gold to a 289-160 advantage in total offense.

Brian Brennan, who played quarterback for both teams, completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns. He hit Antonio Wilson with a 29-yard, first-quarter pass that resulted in the Gold’s first touchdown and capped the scoring with a 15-yard, fourth-quarter strike to Matt McElravy while quarterbacking the Silver.

Robert Scott caught five passes for 67 yards for the Gold team, which was made up predominantly of projected starters. Darick Pope led all Silver receivers with four catches.

“Overall, there are a lot of positive things to build on,” said coach Chris Tormey, whose team opens the 1997 season at the Air Force Academy Aug. 30. “I thought our first-team guys had good games and our young receivers were outstanding for the second week in a row.”

Defensively, there were a number of solid efforts, but most impressive might have been that of linebacker Matt Jasik, who continually had the Silver quarterbacks on the run. On the other side, Silver defensive backs Dennis Gibbs and Jaquwan Brackenridge came up with two interceptions.

The main area of concern for Tormey and his staff is rebuilding the offensive line. Not only did three starters graduate, but starting center Bill Verdonk has missed spring drills because of a knee injury.

Tormey said Verdonk’s return along with the return of three other injured offensive linemen and some new faces in the fall should help solidify the protection.

“We’ve got to continue to get better in the offensive line,” Tormey said. “But tonight I thought we played as close to our potential in the line as we have all spring.”

Irvine rolls

UC Irvine blanked Idaho 4-0 in the first round of the men’s Big West Conference Tennis Championships in Las Cruces, N.M.

Golfers struggle

Idaho’s Tyler Sullivan and Ed Kavran each shot rounds of 74 and 79 Friday at Dayton Valley Country Club in Dayton, Nev., but their teammates struggled and the Vandals were deeply rooted in ninth place after two rounds of the 10-team Big West Conference Men’s Golf Championships.

UI’s team score of 36-over-par 612 was well off the pace of the 584 posted by first-day leader Pacific. Host Nevada was five shots back at 589.

The final 18 holes of the tournament will be played today.

Hill, King selected

Kevin Hill, a free safety on Idaho’s football team, and Brian King, the Vandals’ top golfer, have been chosen to attend the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., May 27-30.

The two were among 276 collegiate athletes chosen from 500 nominees to attend the conference, which explores potential solutions to problems facing today’s student athletes.

, DataTimes