Sad week ends with a defeat

EUGENE, Ore. – The outcome was predictable. The better team won. The losing team made no excuses and took no satisfaction from the final result.

There was no Hollywood ending to one of the toughest weeks in the history of University of Idaho football – Oregon made sure of that with a 48-10 drubbing of the Vandals at Autzen Stadium.

But the measure of success for the Vandals was perhaps a little different on this Saturday, five days after the death of cornerback Eric McMillan.

“It’s been a hard week,” senior receiver Bobby Bernal-Wood said. “There have been so many issues with Eric, with football and school getting into exams. Guys have numerous other problems going on.

“For us to come out and stay together this week and still play hard, that was a big accomplishment.”

Several players acknowledged that their thoughts often drifted toward their fallen teammate.

“You lose a close member of your family and there’s no way not to think about it,” senior defensive end Brandon Kania said. “It’s going to be there no matter what you do. It’s the little mental images – the guy not running back to the huddle, you don’t see him making a tackle. Just flashbacks.”

On the field, the Vandals were simply outmanned by the Ducks, who improved to 1-2 in front of 57,912, their 32nd consecutive sellout crowd. Idaho dropped to 0-4 heading into another road trip next Saturday against Eastern Michigan.

The Vandals, 34.5-point underdogs, used up most of the spread in a dreary first quarter. Oregon scored on its first two possessions before Idaho’s offense perked up. The Vandals settled for Mike Barrow’s 41-yard field goal after a holding penalty wiped out what would have been a first-and-10 at the Ducks’ 12.

“We’re moving the ball early and there’s a holding penalty,” Idaho coach Nick Holt said. “It’s the same old stuff that not very good teams do, and we’re still not very good. We’re playing an excellent opponent and that exacerbates the whole thing.”

Oregon answered with a nine-play scoring drive fueled by eight rushing attempts. It would be symbolic of the remainder of the game as Oregon finished with 227 yards rushing. Terrence Whitehead scored easily from the 1 and the Ducks led 21-3.

“We had some problems with our responsibilities, getting out of our gaps and not playing like we’re supposed to play,” Kania said. “That’s what we were doing against Boise State (in a 65-7 loss in the season opener).”

The margin grew to 27-3 when Chris Solomona intercepted a Michael Harrington pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.

Another Idaho drive stalled at the Ducks’ 23 and Barrow missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt wide left. The teams then exchanged TDs as Oregon settled for a 34-10 halftime lead.

“We needed to start fast and finish strong and I think we did both of those things,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.

Idaho moved inside Oregon’s 20 early in the third quarter, but again was forced to try a field goal. Robby Valenzuela blocked Barrow’s kick and Marley Tucker scooped up the ball and ran 57 yards to Idaho’s 30. Four plays later, Oregon scored to take a 41-10 lead.

“They ran right over our guard and tackle,” Holt said of the botched field goal. “They’re huge, they got great push and they got a hand up in the window.”

Compared to their first three games, the Vandals were more consistent on offense, finishing with 272 yards, including a season-high 212 passing. But Idaho’s offensive line had a long day, yielding four sacks and creating few running lanes.

Afterward, Holt found plenty to criticize, but not regarding his players’ effort.

“Football is kind of a neat thing, it’s a remedy,” he said. “We get out here on the field and around each other and sometimes you forget all your troubles and for two hours you come out and compete and enjoy life. We’ll deal with our tragic loss daily and time is a great healer. I’m proud of the team and now we have to keep moving forward.”