Warriors shut down Vandals

MOSCOW, Idaho – The largest Kibbie Dome crowd in five years and the 10th biggest in school history came to watch the University of Idaho’s football debut in the Western Athletic Conference.

But the Vandals didn’t give the 15,635 in attendance much reason to stick around and the Dome was perhaps two-thirds empty by the time Hawaii put the finishing touches on a 24-0 thrashing of Idaho on Saturday night.

The Vandals (0-4 overall) never seriously threatened on offense and their defense couldn’t get third-down stops in the first half. That combination led to Idaho suffering its first shutout loss in the Kibbie Dome in 19 years. Hawaii (1-2, 1-0 WAC) posted its first shutout since blanking SMU in 1999.

“Just horrible,” Idaho coach Nick Holt said. “Just wasn’t very good whatsoever. It’s hard when you have a lot of guys out (with injuries), but those are just excuses. We’ve got to pick up the slack and we didn’t throw the ball very well.”

Idaho got off to a slow start and an even slower finish, which effectively took the crowd out of the game.

“The fans were tremendous,” linebacker Cole Snyder said. “I feel badly, like we let them down. A shutout in your own home is nothing you ever want.”

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan completed 22 of 27 passes for 259 yards and two scores in the first half alone. He was virtually alone in the backfield as Idaho was unable to generate a pass rush.

Brennan completed 5 of 6 attempts for 74 yards as Hawaii scored on its first series. Starting a trend that continued throughout the half, Brennan converted twice on third downs. He scrambled around end to pick up five yards and a first down. Later, he zipped a 32-yard pass on third-and-8 to Ryan Grice-Mullen, one of a handful of quick 5-foot-10 receivers that gave Idaho’s secondary and linebackers fits throughout.

Brennan capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown strike to Ross Dickerson, but Hawaii botched the snap on the PAT.

“Other than those third-down conversions we played pretty good defense,” Holt said. “We were just on the field all night.”

Idaho’s first two drives showed promise, but both fizzled near the Hawaii 40-yard line and the Vandals were forced to punt.

The Vandals’ offensive options continue to shrink. Idaho’s young offensive line got younger when junior Jade Tadvick had an appendectomy Wednesday night. That left the Vandals without two of their best linemen (Nate VanderPol missed the game with a knee injury). Idaho’s line consisted of three freshmen, including true frosh Billy Bates, a sophomore and a junior. There were numerous times when Idaho played five freshmen on offense. True freshman Wes Williams, who had been playing cornerback, saw some time at receiver.

Leading receiver Daniel Smith left the game in the second quarter when he was drilled by linebacker Tanuvasa Moe as he reached for a high pass over the middle. Smith had a headache and was held out of the second half as a precaution, Holt said.

Antwaun Sherman, one of three running backs trying to fill the shoes of 2004 leading rusher Jayson Bird (sidelined by broken collarbone two weeks ago), left with a leg injury in the third quarter.

Idaho never established a running game and quarterback Steve Wichman had just four first-half completions.

Several times Wichman and his receivers weren’t on the same page as his passes sailed toward the sideline while a receiver was sprinting downfield. Wichman also had two passes batted down at line.