UI Strikes At Every Turn In 43-0 Thrashing Of Isu

The smoke from a pregame fireworks display hadn’t cleared from the rafters of Holt Arena when the University of Idaho set about exacting revenge for a humbling football defeat there two years ago.

Behind the precision passing of senior quarterback Brian Brennan, the Vandals improved to 2-1 with a 43-0 beating of Idaho State on Saturday afternoon.

“This feels great,” said Brennan, who, during his last visit to Pocatello, was sacked six times and suffered through one of the most agonizing losses of his career. “We just executed. For the second time this year, I had no sacks. When they give me that much time, the receivers do what they do best. That’s get open.”

Brennan mixed passes to eight receivers and connected on 24 of 34 attempts. The receptions amounted to 313 yards and five touchdowns.

And for the third successive week Brennan had no interceptions.

“I think we did a good job of preparing,” UI coach Chris Tormey said. “We didn’t take them lightly and our performance showed it.

“Offense. Defense. Special teams. And nice returns. If we keep doing that we’ll be in a lot of games.”

Of course, there was the matter of redemption.

“It really was important to come down here and play well,” Tormey said. “We had a lot of kids in the locker room today that had a bad taste about the game here two years ago.”

So thorough was UI’s domination that the ISU fans in the crowd of 7,613 resorted to cheering for first downs.

“The defensive line played great today,” linebacker Ryan Skinner said. “We were flowing to the ball. We really keyed on the running backs. As soon as they picked a hole, we picked a hole and stuffed them.”

Brennan completed his first five passes in marching the Vandals 66 yards to score on their first possession.

It didn’t take long for the Vandals to strike again. And again. On their six first-half possessions, they scored four touchdowns, turned the ball over on a fumble and missed a field goal.

The defense and special teams also stood out.

A blocked punt led to a safety, and the defense took the bite out the Bengals by limiting them to 75 yards in the first half and a total 186 for the game.

For the first time since 1985, the UI defense has two shutouts in a season. Saturday’s game was the first time since 1942 that the Vandals have shutout successive opponents.

“We’re a good young defense,” Skinner said. “Nobody knew how we were going to play this year. But the defense played great - 100 percent effort.”

MEMO: Changed from the Regional edition.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Idaho 43, Idaho State 0 Idaho 16 13 14 0 - 43 Idaho St 0 0 0 0 - 0 IDAHO Wilson 18 pass from Brennan (Scott kick), 10:01 IDAHO - Safety, ISU punt blocked into end zone, 8:19 IDAHO - Thomas 4 pass from Brennan (Scott kick), 1:22 IDAHO - Price 39 pass from Brennan (kick failed), 8:21 IDAHO - Alderson 11 pass from Brennan (Scott kick), 2:33 IDAHO - Tanner 30 run (Scott kick), 8:35 IDAHO - Prestimonico 11 pass from Brennan (Scott kick), 4:14

A-7,613.

IDAHO ISU First downs 24 11 Rushes-yards 33-179 38-114 Passing 327 115 Comp-Att-Int 25-38-0 9-26-1 Return Yards 122 76 Punts-Avg. 2-47 8-36 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 6-75 6-41 Time of Possession 28:38 31:22 RUSHING-UI, Tanner 14-91, Thomas 8-24, Dean 3-21, Alderson 5-13, Brennan 1-12, Ah Hi 2-11; ISU, Nkeyasen 18-57, Burford 10-28, Joseph 4-22, Elgaaen 5-16, Whitworth 1-4. PASSING-UI, Brennan 24-34-0 313, Dean 1-3-0 14, Uranga 0-1-0 0; ISU, Burford 9-25-1 115, Simpson 0-1-0 0. RECEIVING-UI, Price 5-127, Wilson 6-56, Pankratz 3-51, Prestimonico 4-37, Townsley 2-23, Alderson 2-14, Stanbaugh 1-10, Thomas 2-9; ISU, Ernst 2-35, Delancy 3-30, McBride 1-18, Young 2-16, Nkeyasen 1-16.