Somehow, the Idaho Vandals weren't completely out of it early in the fourth quarter with five turnovers to Arkansas State's one. They had weathered two Matt Linehan interceptions in his four pass attempts. They had overcome a crushing fumble by Linehan inside ASU's 10 that was returned 93 yards for a touchdown. And they managed to regain the lead shortly after a David Ungerer fumble on a punt return in the third quarter.

But late in the game, with fatigue perhaps setting in, the Vandals could no longer compensate for their mistakes. They were undone by three more turnovers -- eight in all -- and seven fourth-quarter penalties in a 44-28 loss to the Red Wolves at the Kibbie Dome.

Instead of a statement Sun Belt win, coach Paul Petrino spent his six minutes with reporters bemoaning how Idaho couldn't finish what it started -- yet again. As for the players' reaction, well, the media didn't get to hear what they thought. No UI players were made available after the game.

For more on the 1-7 Vandals, click on the link below.

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You can read my game story here. Much of the focus afterward from Petrino and ASU coach Blake Anderson was obviously on Idaho's giveaways. They were the story of the game. But the Vandals' penalties (especially late) were also damaging. Several of those were on the Idaho offensive line, which went through three stages over the course of the nearly four-hour game: really bad at the start, pretty darn good late in the second quarter and most of the third ... and then really bad again.

Idaho's defensive line also faded late in the game, and Anderson wondered if fatigue played a part. Only 38 players were listed in the participation report for Idaho compared to 58 for ASU, though Idaho guard Dallas Sandberg and defensive tackle Tueni Lupeamanu weren't listed and they saw time. "They don’t play a lot of guys," Anderson said. "I think during the third quarter and the fourth quarter they got tired."

Here's more from Petrino:

• On the offensive line: "(It) reverted big time in the fourth quarter, which is really sad. Really hard to see. Kind of changed completely in the fourth quarter. Not good. That can’t happen."

• On the turnovers: "You can’t beat bad teams with that many turnovers, let alone a really good team. And they’re a good team. What’s sad is when it was 30-28, it was probably the best game we’ve played since I’ve been here in two years. It’s just ridiculous. It’s too bad because a whole bunch of guys might have played their best game since I’ve been here, and a whole lot of guys did, especially as a team when it was 30-28 — even with a bunch of turnovers at that point. We don’t have those turnovers, we’re probably kicking their butt. But you can’t turn the ball over that many times against a good team and have any kind of a chance."

• On what led to Idaho's meltdown: "I think the turnovers were the biggest part. I think the defense played pretty well all day, and that at the end they didn’t suck it up and keep playing hard. When it was up 30-28, it probably one the best games we’ve played; after that, it was probably one the worst we’ve played. That’s the bottom line. Everybody can see that."

• On rotating QBs: "I just trying to find somebody who could get it done. Both of them made a couple good (plays) at times, and both of them turned it over at times. So I just trying to find something to make it work. Either one of them, the O-line has got to block better up front or it doesn’t matter."

• On penalties: "We’ve been better with penalties until this week. It’s amazing. They were the most-penalized team in the world last week, and then they turn around and only we did stuff wrong this week." (Note: Idaho had nine penalties to ASU's 11.)

• On whether this game reminded him of last year's at Arkansas State: "No. We were way more in this game this year. There was a time this year when we really getting after them. I don’t know if I ever really thought that last year. We had a couple lucky plays. There was a time this year when we were getting after them pretty good. We just didn’t finish it."

• On Idaho's three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the fourth quarter, one of which was called on him: "One of them (came) against their receiver, No. 15 (Tres Houston), who got a whole bunch of penalties last week. And he was holding (Jayshawn Jordan) and the kid (Jordan) was trying to get his hands off, so I won’t do nothing to him. The other ones we’ll talk about." Houston was one of four ASU players who were reprimanded by the Sun Belt for unsportsmanlike conduct after the Red Wolves' loss to Lousiana-Lafayette. After Petrino wrapped up his chat with the media, he said this as he walked out of the interview room, in regard to Houston: "Same kid that got reprimanded last week but got to play."

The Vandals' loss marred some stellar individual performances, and an admirable effort from the defense despite its late-game troubles. UI racked up 12 tackles for loss. Five TFLs came from linebacker Marc Millan, who led the team with 18 tackles. Tailbacks Elijhaa Penny (16 rushes for 121 yards and two TDs) and Jerrel Brown (15 for 98 yards and two TDs) had big days on the ground. Josh McCain led all receivers with five catches for 82 yards.

Idaho travels to San Diego State next week for its last nonconference game of the season. UI is back home on Nov. 15 against Troy. Then, after a bye, it wraps up the season at Appalachian State on Nov. 29.

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