Vandals Pull Great Escape Fourth-Quarter Pounding Of Aggies Turns Close Game Into 44-14 Victory

It’s an obligation to report the final score. So here it is: Idaho 44, UC Davis 14.

It’s also a requirement to report the facts accurately. So, DON’T BE FOOLED BY THAT SCORE.

This one was a battle from the get-go, a white-knuckler deep into the second half before the Vandals eased away from the Division II, non-scholarship visitors before an edgy homecoming crowd of 14,137 Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.

Idaho (4-2 overall) scored the last 24 points, including three fourth-quarter touchdowns that distorted the outcome. It probably wasn’t the tuneup the Vandals were looking for heading into Saturday’s Big West Conference road showdown with Nevada.

“It was a little tense (at halftime),” sophomore receiver Ryan Prestimonico said. “We were all a little bit scared, a little bit shocked, but we knew what we had to do.”

It was unexpectedly close because the Aggies played well for three quarters and the Vandals slipped in and out of sync. Despite UI coach Chris Tormey’s warnings during the week that UC Davis would be a legitimate opponent, the Aggies were portrayed by the media as the designated homecoming dessert.

They weren’t.

“I give full credit to Idaho, but I couldn’t be happier about our effort,” said Aggies coach Bob Biggs, whose club dropped to 3-3. “I didn’t think we were the best team, but we certainly played competitively.”

Idaho led just 13-7 at half and 20-14 late in the third quarter before the Aggies became turnover-happy.

UC Davis quarterback Kevin Daft, 13 of 18 in the first half with two drops by his receivers, was intercepted by Kevin Hill and Garner Moody in the span of 2 minutes late in the third quarter. Idaho converted those miscues into 10 points and a 30-14 advantage, the TD coming on Antonio Wilson’s stumbling 3-yard reception.

“My foot got stuck,” said Wilson, who surpassed 100 career catches with eight on the day. “I usually get there too fast, so it worked out.”

Capitalizing on favorable field position, freshman Anthony Tenner punctuated a 44-yard drive with a 29-yard TD run midway through the fourth. Dennis Gibbs’ interception and school-record 100-yard TD return with 6 seconds left concluded the scoring.

“They had some answers to what we do,” Tormey said. “I’m not going to put it all on our players. They did a great job and you have to give them credit… I’m not sure our players realized, and this is my job, what a good team we were going to play, I’ll just say that.”

Not that he didn’t try. It probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

“They played harder than we’d seen on film and they played better than we’d seen on film,” said Prestimonico, who had a 42-yard scoring catch in the first quarter but dropped a certain TD pass just before half.

The Vandals produced 434 total yards, but sputtered inside the Aggies’ 10. Idaho settled for two Troy Scott chip-shot field goals from 19 and 22 yards, but he missed a 22-yarder that clanked off the left upright.

Idaho’s four-freshmen offensive line was confused at times by the Aggies’ changing fronts. Quarterback Brian Brennan was sacked four times, but still passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

“We’re young, I think that was obvious today, but they didn’t quit on each other,” Tormey said. “We protected Brian a lot better in the second half and we were able to get some continuity going.”

Daft received little protection from Idaho tackle Tim Wilson, who had three sacks and a harsh grade for the defense.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, it was about a 2,” Wilson said. “In the locker room we were happy, but we know we should have played better.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Idaho 44, UC Davis 14 UC Davis 0 7 7 0 - 14 Idaho 10 3 10 21 - 44 IdahoT. Scott 19 FG, 8:27. Idaho-Prestimonico 42 pass from Brennan (T. Scott kick), 6:46. UC Davis-Terrell 9 pass from Daft (Hill kick), 4:10. Idaho-T. Scott 39 FG, 00:34. Idaho-J. Thomas 1 run (T. Scott kick), 11:28. UC Davis-Bugarske 22 pass from Daft (Hill kick), 8:48. Idaho-T. Scott 22 FG, 00:53. Idaho-Wilson 3 pass from Brennan (T. Scott kick), 11:09. Idaho-Tenner 29 run (T. Scott kick), 7:25. Idaho-Gibbs 100 interception return (T. Scott kick), 00:12. A-14,137. UC Davis Idaho First downs 16 20 Rushes-yards 27-59 40-179 Passing 241 255 Comp-Att-Int 22-42-3 19-32-0 Return Yards 8 177 Punts-Avg. 8-39.3 4-45.0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 12-91 8-76 Time of Possession 29:38 30:22 RUSHING-UC Davis, Burgin 16-39, Stafford 2-34, Gallagher 3-9, Porchia 1-5. Idaho, J. Thomas 14-91, Tenner 18-86, Ah Hi 1-22, Alderson 1-2. PASSING-UC Davis, Daft 20-36-2-207, Stafford 2-6-1-34. Idaho, Brennan 19-31-0-255, Dean 0-1-0-0. RECEIVING-UC Davis, Burgin 6-75, Porchia 4-39, Shoemaker 3-22, Terrell 2-20. Idaho, A. Wilson 8-71, Prestimonico 4-88, Alderson 3-27, Price 2-16.