Vandals go for two consecutive victories

MOSCOW, Idaho – Wins, let alone back-to-back victories, have been scarce for the University of Idaho football team since 2000.

Today, the Vandals will try to earn consecutive wins for the first time since the final two games of the 2003 season. As an added bonus, a victory over New Mexico State would give Idaho its first 2-0 conference start since opening the 1999 Big West campaign with three straight conference wins.

“What a concept,” head coach Dennis Erickson said wryly.

Idaho had better be well-schooled in the concepts of pass rush and/or pass defense when New Mexico State brings its unique offense to the Kibbie Dome for a 2 p.m. WAC showdown.

“They threw it 73 times last week (against UTEP),” Erickson said. “You almost have to go into the bullpen and get a reliever when you throw it that many times.”

But Aggies quarterback Chase Holbrook doesn’t have a pitch count. New Mexico State (2-2, 0-0) runs an offense in the mode of Texas Tech’s and Brigham Young’s.

“We’re going to throw it first and run second,” coach Hal Mumme said.

Holbrook set WAC records with 48 completions and 73 attempts a week ago. He threw for 253 yards in the second quarter alone. Holbrook is averaging 427.8 yards passing per game and throws an interception roughly once every 71 attempts. At his current pace, the sophomore would break NMSU’s single-season record by more than 1,500 yards.

Four different Aggies receivers have had 100-yard games.

“They’re going to sling it, they going to throw quick outs, down the field, intermediate routes,” Idaho cornerbacks coach Alundis Brice said. “They’ve got the whole gamut so you have to really react. We have to tackle really well because they do the quick game. You’ve got to get them on the ground, line up and do it again.”

Vandals cornerback Stanley Franks planned on extra conditioning this week to prepare for his busy afternoon.

“It looks a lot like a 7-on-7 drill out there,” he said. “That’s what it reminds me of.”

Idaho (2-3, 1-0) uses as many as 10 linemen and six linebackers, but there isn’t as much depth in the secondary.

Two things could assist Idaho’s pass defense. A quality pass rush is one key, but the Vandals only have four sacks in five games. NMSU has been sacked 16 times in four games.

The second key?

“Hopefully, we can move the football a little bit and keep them off the field,” Erickson said.

NMSU shut down I-AA Southeastern Louisiana and Texas Southern, but New Mexico (426 total yards) and UTEP (537) produced big numbers.

Still, as Mumme said, “we’re two plays away from being 4-0.”

If series history is any indication, this one will be close and high scoring. Six of the last seven Idaho-New Mexico State games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including five decided by four points or less. The last five contests have seen the losing team score at least 31 points.

“It’ll be an interesting challenge for us,” Erickson said. “They’re one of the two most improved teams in the conference along with San Jose State.”

Notes

Idaho tight end Luke Smith-Anderson (knee) and guard Jade Tadvick (shoulder) practiced during the week and are expected to play. Cornerback Reggie Jones (knee infection) will be a game-time decision, Erickson said. … Safety Tone Taupule, who started the first four games before yielding to Chris Smith, will return to the first unit. Smith (illness) missed a couple of days of practice. … New Mexico State has outscored opponents 32-0 in the third quarter.