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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vandals face Bulldogs

Idaho needs perfect effort to beat Fresno

Josh Wright Correspondent

For the better part of a week, Robb Akey has heeded the warnings. This isn’t an ideal time to confront Fresno State, he’s been told.

Not after the shocker Hawaii pulled at Bulldog Stadium.

In response, the Idaho coach acknowledged his club will be “playing a wounded animal” tonight at 7. Yet the Vandals have enough problems to be caught dwelling on Fresno State’s.

“… All we can pay attention to is our football team and the way we go about it,” Akey said. “I would like to think my football team is a little bit upset right now and ready to (play) better and get after somebody.”

If anything, Idaho understands how tricky it will be to duplicate what the Warriors did last week. Hawaii parlayed six turnovers and big special teams plays into a 32-29 overtime win over an FSU team that was ranked No. 22.

Since then, Pat Hill and his staff surely have harped on ball security and not taking the Vandals lightly. This is a program, after all, that’s been known for sound play and stellar special teams during Hill’s 12-year tenure.

“If we want to win that game, the main thing we need to win is the turnover battle,” UI receiver Max Komar said. “We can’t have any turnovers. We’ve got to take the ball away from them.”

The Vandals (1-5 and losers of 15 straight WAC games) have been bitten this season by a string of ill-timed turnovers and gaffes on special teams. Last week, before Nevada had pulled away, Idaho punter T.J. Conley bobbled a punt at the 1-yard line, setting up an easy Wolf Pack touchdown.

With a miscue like that tonight, the Vandals know they’ll be doomed again. The Bulldogs (3-2, 0-1) may be the WAC’s most-talented team, particularly in the offensive backfield with three dynamite ballcarriers.

Sophomore Ryan Mathews has been hobbled by a knee injury, but in his place last week Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding combined for 318 rushing yards.

“I’ve got respect for their football team,” Akey said. “I think they’re very solid all around. They have a lot of weapons.”

Fresno State, a nearly five-touchdown favorite, could have a field day against an Idaho defense that continues to give up big numbers. Its five FBS opponents have averaged 51.4 points.

The defensive-minded Akey was asked how painful it is to watch the Vandals’ D struggle so mightily.

“Yeah, it hurts a lot to see the points that are going up on the board and the numbers that are going around,” he said. “But we can’t play for the yard numbers right now. What we’ve got to do is to get better at playing the game, at playing defense.”