Vandals can’t take advantage
MOSCOW, Idaho – For the most part special teams were exceptional. Other than that, the Idaho Vandals didn’t have much to get excited about in their matchup with No. 19 Hawaii.
Despite matching a school record by throwing five interceptions, Colt Brennan displayed most of his Heisman-hopeful chops , and the Warriors rolled over the Vandals 48-20 in a Western Athletic Conference football game before 13,807 fans in the Kibbie Dome Saturday afternoon.
“It was not a good game, it wasn’t fun,” Idaho coach Robb Akey said. “We had a good week of preparation. I think we played a good football team. … We had some struggles today that affected us a great deal.”
Brennan completed 30 of 49 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns and ran for one score. Despite Brennan’s interceptions, it was 41-10 at halftime and 48-10 after three quarters.
“That’s the most (interceptions) I’ve ever thrown in my life, but it was a weird day out there,” Brennan said. “A couple of things didn’t bounce my way. I really didn’t have my best game, but they made some great plays and that’s just the way it goes. We got the victory and that’s all that matters.”
By contrast, Idaho freshman Nathan Enderle suffered one of those five-interception, five-sack, learning-experience days. He hit 15 of 34 passes for 186 yards, but 97 yards and his touchdown pass came in the fourth quarter. He was replaced by Brian Nooy for the last series of each half.
“(Hawaii) played hard, but … mainly our offense is hurting itself right now,” Enderle said. “I make mistakes every game. I try to minimize those. … Interceptions fall on a lot of people’s shoulders. I’m not going to point out which ones are which.”
It’s not that the Vandals (1-4, 0-1 WAC) were without their moments.
Punter T.J. Conley averaged 41.7 yards a punt, despite a 4-yarder on a short field. Tino Amancio had 50- and 49-yard field goals and Vincente Rico’s kickoffs were deep. Dewey Hale averaged 26 yards on five kickoff returns, and Shiloh Keo averaged 20 on three punt returns.
In addition to the special teams, Enderle directed a sharp first-quarter drive that tied the game at 7 when Eddie Williams went 18 yards on a reverse. Breyon Williams, David Vobora, Chris Smith, Shiloh Keo and JoJo Dickson intercepted Brennan, and Siua Musika and Ben Alexander sacked him.
But overall, especially in the first half when the Warriors (5-0, 2-0) didn’t have to punt, the Hawaii offense was able to march down the field, and the defense was simply stifling.
“Our defense, for the first time since I’ve been here, can win the game,” Hawaii coach June Jones said. “I knew that we could and they’re starting to play like that. … I think other teams are finding that out, that we’re pretty good on defense.”
Idaho finished with 303 yards, but 181 came in the second half with 105 in the fourth quarter.
“People who don’t see us assume that because we score so many points our defense can’t stop anyone,” Hawaii linebacker Adam Leonard said. “No matter how our offense plays, we still know we can step up.”
Hawaii scored on its first possession, after Idaho went three-and-out, saved by a pass interference penalty on an early third down. The Vandals had a chance to change the complexion of the game when Smith intercepted Brennan, but on second down Enderle threw the ball right to linebacker Leonard, who returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.
The Warriors scored on their next two possessions, and after Vobora’s acrobatic pick of Brennan, Hawaii came back to add a field goal.
Then came an interesting exchange with the Warriors coming out ahead. Cornerback Myron Newberry picked off Enderle and returned the ball 22 yards to the UI 8. Two plays later Smith intercepted Brennan at the goal line and returned the ball 69 yards. Two plays after that Newberry went 76 yards untouched with an interception to make it 38-7.
Brennan hit 23 of 33 passes for 276 yards in the first half with Davone Bess getting 127 yards on 10 catches.
“It was a tough loss,” said Williams, who got the final Vandals touchdown on a 35-yard pass from Enderle. “We had a great game plan. It’s just a matter of executing. It’s that simple. Football’s not as complicated as it may seem. If 10 guys are doing their job and one guy messes up, we’re not going to be successful on the play. Every once in a while you get lucky, but unfortunately we didn’t.”
The Vandals go to San Jose State (2-3, 1-0) next week. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.