, Psu, There Is ‘D’ In Idaho

Not so long ago after a stream of 41-to-34-type football games, the joke was that there was no “D”, or defense, in I-d-a-h-o. These days, there’s not only a “D”, but that “O” is starting to look like a zero.

The Vandals crunched Portland State 46-0 on Saturday before an announced crowd of 12,128. It was Idaho’s first shutout since 1993 and the first Kibbie Dome doughnut since Dennis Erickson’s troops blanked Montana 38-0 in 1985.

Heck, in 1985, Idaho defensive end Nick Alexakos was in grade school, roughly the last time he visited the end zone in a Pop Warner game. Saturday, against PSU, Alexakos recovered a fumble in the end zone, blocked a field goal and co-blocked a punt with Garner Moody that led to James Durrough’s 26-yard return for a TD in the fourth quarter.

“Our goal is (allowing) 14 points, but really the goal is always a shutout,” Alexakos said. “You gotta love it.”

Idaho’s defense and special teams nursed the offense through another red-zone crisis, essentially scoring nine points as the Vandals led 15-0 at half. Leading 6-0, Moody and Tim Wilson sacked PSU quarterback Jimmy Blanchard in the end zone for a safety.

Minutes later, Mike Roberg, a freshman from University High in Spokane, sacked Blanchard and forced a fumble that Alexakos recovered in the end zone.

Meanwhile, the offense produced just two Troy Scott field goals despite favorable field position and attempted trick plays, such as a fleaflicker and a halfback-option pass.

Scott also missed a 42-yard field goal that hit the left upright. Later, Portland State lineman Charles Gilmore, a thorn in UI’s offense throughout the opening half, swallowed up running back Jerome Thomas on fourth-and-goal at the 1.

“I kept telling the offense, ‘The defense is playing good, we’ve got to get some points and do something to keep the defense going,”’ Idaho wide receiver Deon Price said.

The Vandals, held to 10 points last week by Air Force despite penetrating the opponent’s 25-yard line five times, finally broke the red-zone blockade in the second half, thanks to some adjustments by the coaching staff.

Idaho allowed only 166 yards, its fewest since Eastern Washington’s 132-yard output in 1995.

“We ate these corners up all night,” PSU receiver Art Williams said. Better check Webster’s on that definition of ate, Art.

True, PSU receivers did slip past defensive backs on occasion, but that misgiving went unnoticed because Idaho’s pass rush usually was eating up Blanchard and second-half QB Tyson Parsons.

The Vandals’ next home game is Oct. 4. UI is at Idaho State Saturday.

Idaho 46, Portland St. 0

Portland St. 0 0 0 0 - 0

Idaho 6 9 14 17 - 46

UI-T. Scott 28 FG, 10:11.

UI-T. Scott 33 FG, 00:15.

UI-Team safety, 5:43.

UI-Alexakos 0 fumble recovery (T. Scott kick), 2:58.

UI-Wilson 6 pass from Brennan (T. Scott kick), 12:52.

UI-Prestimonico 30 pass from Brennan (T. Scott kick), 6:44.

UI-T. Scott 20 FG, 14:49.

UI-Durrough 26 blocked punt return (T. Scott kick), 12:06.

UI-Dean 14 run (T. Scott kick), 4:39.

A-12,128.

PSU UI First downs 13 21 Rushes-yards 28-20 39-121 Passing 146 279 Comp-Att-Int 13-37-0 20-35-0 Return Yards 207 100 Punts-Avg. 11-36.6 5-42.4 Fumbles-Lost 5-2 0-0 Penalties-Yards 9-84 8-51 Time of Possession 24:38 35:22

RUSHING-PSU, Dunn 8-40, Johnson 3-14, Clemons 7-14, Blanchard 8-(-29), Parsons 2-(-29). UI-J. Thomas 22-79, Dean 1-14, Ah Hi 6-13, Alderson 7-12, Brennan 3-3.

PASSING-PSU, Parsons 6-19-0-60, Blanchard 7-18-0-86. UI, Brennan 18-28-0-265, Dean 2-6-0-14, Alderson 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING-PSU, Williams 4-44, Bryant 3-42, Harris 3-40, McVeigh 1-14, Allen 1-10, Dunn 1-(-4). UI, Price 4-103, Prestimonico 4-60, Pankratz 3-40, Wilson 3-29, J. Thomas 2-16, Ah Hi 1-13, Taylor 1-10.

Wisconsin 28, Boise St. 24

At Madison, Wis., the Badgers struggled without star running back Ron Dayne before shaking off the heavy underdog Broncos on quarterback Mike Samuel’s 12-yard touchdown scramble with 49 seconds remaining.

Nevada 31, UNLV 14

At Reno, Nev., John Dutton passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wolf Pack past the Rebels.

Sophomore Chris Lemon rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries and Nevada forced two turnovers inside its 4.

Utah St. 41, Idaho St. 7

At Logan, Utah, Aggies second-string running back Melvin Blue ran for 137 yards and a touchdown.

The Bengals were able to record only 50 yards of total offense in the first three quarters. Three Bengals quarterbacks combined for 16 yards passing.

N. Ariz. 33, St. Cloud St. 10

At Flagstaff, Ariz., Travis Brown threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns as the Lumberjacks overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Huskies.

Weber St. 29, Western St. 13

At Ogden, Utah, Scott Shields accounted for 17 of his team’s 29 points as the Wildcats defeated the Division II Mountaineers.

The Wildcat free-safety had a pair of interceptions, including one for an 18-yard touchdown return.

Shields kicked field goals of 42, 37 and 24 yards and completed a pair of point-after-touchdown kicks. He also had a 44.2-yard punting average with a long punt of 56 yards.

New Mexico 61, N.M. St. 24

At Albuquerque, N.M., quarterback Graham Leigh ran for three touchdowns and passed for three and the Lobos defeated the Aggies for the 19th time in the last 21 meetings.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition