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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vandals, Utah State gladly enter WAC play


Utah State quarterback Leon Jackson III is still the starter, but he has struggled. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Idaho and Utah State couldn’t be happier to bid farewell to the non-conference football season.

The Vandals went 1-3, with a win over I-AA Idaho State. The defense showed promise at times, but the offense has struggled and quarterback Steve Wichman is battling to keep his job as the starter.

Ditto for Utah State, with the primary differences being its 0-4 record and an offense that has failed to produce a touchdown or a field goal. Quarterback Leon Jackson III received the backing of coach Brent Guy as the starter this week, but Jackson’s best work has been as a punter (39.2 yards per boot).

Each team sees the other as an opportunity to get well today when they meet in their Western Athletic Conference opener at 12:05 Pacific at Romney Stadium in Logan.

“Utah State and ourselves are kind of in the same position, having tough non-league schedules,” Idaho coach Dennis Erickson said. “The good news is it’s the start of a new season for all of us.”

Said Guy: “Getting a win sure is going to give a lot of momentum leading into the rest of the (WAC) games.”

Both teams need more production out of their starting quarterbacks. Wichman has a 47.2 completion percentage with six interceptions and one touchdown. His passer rating of 88.24 is down considerably from last year’s 117.25.

Wichman has had a solid week of practice. He was pulled in the third quarter of a 38-0 loss to Oregon State last Saturday.

“I believe his mental frame is fine,” Erickson said. “That’s happened to every quarterback that’s ever played the game. I wouldn’t say (being benched) hurt his feelings. He was dejected – that’s the best way to put it.”

Jackson has a 79.2 passer rating, a 43.8 completion percentage and he’s thrown four interceptions. He was intercepted only six times in nine games last season.

“I do believe that once we get on track offensively and get in the end zone and get that monkey off our back, it is going to energize a lot of guys,” said Guy, whose offensive coordinator Mike Santiago resigned on Monday. “It is a heavy burden for those guys to carry right now.”

Jackson’s mobility worries Erickson, who has seen Michigan State’s Drew Stanton and Washington State’s Alex Brink singe his defense with scrambles.

“We have to make sure where he’s at, keep him in the pocket,” Erickson said. “They’ve turned it over, like us. I think they’re trying to decide what they’re going to do. I think they’ll try to run it. That’s what I’d do against us.”

Idaho has yielded 200 yards rushing per game.

Marcus Cross is averaging 75 yards per game, but the Aggies expect more from the 2005 honorable mention J.C. All-American.

“The Aggies failed to meet the NCAA attendance requirement of 15,000 per home game in 2005. USU averaged 10,896.

The school was one of 13 warned by the NCAA that it needs to improve attendance or face possible penalties, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Idaho averaged 15,175 last season.

Notes

Vandal cornerback Reggie Jones (knee) didn’t make the trip. Guard Jade Tadvick (shoulder) has an outside chance of playing. He’ll probably be a game-time decision. Marcis Fennell would replace Tadvick if the senior is unable to play. … Erickson called Utah State’s E.J. Reid (15 tackles) one of the best defensive tackles in the WAC.