Second quarters cost Idaho dearly
Being aware of second-quarter meltdowns didn’t help the Idaho football team.
Going into last weekend’s game against New Mexico State, the Vandals had been outscored 106-30 in the second quarter. Then the Aggies outscored them 28-7 in the second quarter to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 35-14 lead en route to a 45-31 win.
So what is it with the second quarter?
“There’s something to it because something is happening; we’re living through it,” Vandals coach Robb Akey said. “Nobody’s immune from it.”
Just about every bad thing that has happened to the Vandals has happened in the second quarter.
“It’s almost Halloween,” Akey said. “If someone wants to make a horror movie they could call it ‘Second Quarter.’ “
Idaho has 26 first downs in the second quarter, 16 percent of their 159 this season. The Vandals convert third downs 31 percent of the time, but in the second quarter that drops to 23 percent. Of 45 punts, 17 (38 percent) have been in the second quarter.
The offense struggles in the second quarter but the defense is no different. Opponents have 197 first downs but 62 (31 percent) are in the second quarter. Opponents convert 43 percent of their third downs against the Vandals (17 of 39 in the second quarter).
The end result is the Vandals have been outscored 134-37 in the second quarter. Considering that Idaho, which has allowed 162 points in the other three quarters combined, has been outscored by 13.5 points a game, that 12-point difference tells the tale of a 1-7 season with a six-game losing streak.
“I’m not real big at looking at those statistics as much as we’ve got to play better,” Akey said. “When someone makes a mistake, maybe they start pressing. If they start pressing, maybe they’re not quite as good of football player.”
Tomey welcomes bye
Dick Tomey has been a head football coach for almost three decades, but Saturday was a new experience for the San Jose State boss.
“I’ve never been in a game like that in 27 years as a head where we had 36 plays inside the 40 and didn’t score,” he said. “It was very, very, very frustrating.”
The Spartans trailed Fresno State 6-0 at the half before two plays in the kicking game propelled the Bulldogs to a 30-0 win.
“They whipped us soundly,” Tomey said. “I’m pleased to have a bye. We need it.”
It was the 72nd meeting in the evenly matched series between the two schools and the first time the Bulldogs blanked San Jose since 1942.
Quick kicks
Two of the three unbeaten teams in conference play square off Friday night on ESPN2 when Boise State visits Fresno State. … BSU will be without running back Ian Johnson for the second straight game because of a bruised kidney. … Idaho freshman Deonte Jackson leads the conference in rushing at 116.1 yards per game. His 143 at NMSU was his conference-best fifth 100-yard game. … Idaho lost linebacker Ben Alexander for the season with a broken leg, ending the senior’s career, and running back Jayson Bird is out with a knee problem. … NMSU lost star wide receiver Chris Williams for the season with a broken collarbone. His backup, Kenneth Buckley, had six catches for 84 yards and two TDs against the Vandals. … Nevada is 17-4 in home games since the return of coach Chris Ault.