Vandals football wait for new coach

LOGAN, Utah – Jason Gesser knew he’d be asked about his future, especially after Idaho lost its 11th game of the season in its season finale on Saturday.

“We are still recruiting,” the Vandals interim head coach said after the 45-9 loss to 25th-ranked Utah State. “…And I will continue to do so until I’m told otherwise.”

After Idaho’s season finale on Saturday, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said five finalists have been chosen for face-to-face interviews for the vacant head coaching position.

Gesser said Saturday he has had one interview and will have another.

“I’m excited to bring someone in who embraces the expectations we have as a university and as a department to get this football program moving forward,” Spear said.

Spear commended Gesser for holding players accountable and doing a “wonderful job.”

After praising Gesser, Spear added: “But it’s time for us to move forward. It’s time for us to start this rebuilding process.”

After Robb Akey was fired, Gesser coached the final four games, all losses, though the Vandals (1-11, 1-5 WAC) put up a fight in losing 34-27 last week to Texas-San Antonio and again Saturday in Logan to the Western Athletic Conference champions.

“We stuck around due to the run game before it got away from us,” Gesser said.

Running back Mike Bass had 78 yards rushing at halftime, as the Vandals held a 142-90 edge in total yards. But they trailed 21-6 because of three interceptions by quarterback Taylor Davis, who was making his first start of the season. Chuckie Keeton passed for two touchdowns, Kerwynn Williams rushed for 110 yards and senior Will Davis returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown as Utah State (10-2, 6-0) secured its first outright conference title in 76 years.

Lou Groza Award finalist Trey Farquhar kicked field goals of 38, 46 yards and 52 yards – his 11th career field goal of 50 yards or more – for Idaho.

The Aggies accepted an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl for the second straight year.

A late hit by an Idaho player with 3:47 nearly ignited a scrum after the Vandals cleared their bench and ran onto the field. They were penalized for the late hit and for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“I’ve got to say that I am ashamed and embarrassed about the incident near the end of the game,” Gesser said. “I apologize to the Aggie fans and our fans and that is the type of thing that has to get fixed and It will never happen again as long as I’m involved as a coach.”

Texas-San Antonio 38, Texas State 31: Eric Soza threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the host Roadrunners (8-4, 3-3) closed out their regular season with a win over the Bobcats (3-8, 1-4).

San Jose State 52, Louisiana Tech 43: The Spartans (10-2, 5-1) rolled up 584 yards of offense to hold off the Bulldogs (9-3, 4-2) in San Jose, Calif. De’Leon Eskridge’s 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter gave the Spartans a 45-37 lead.