For Vandals, try, try again

MOSCOW, Idaho – For disgruntled Idaho football fans, last week’s setback probably didn’t elicit a much different reaction than the 17 other Vandals losses over the past two years. The club showed some spunk at the start, then got buried by Louisiana Tech’s overpowering running attack.

Nothing new there, right?

In reality, though, the 46-14 defeat may have been the most demoralizing of Robb Akey’s tenure. Idaho, after all, had put together a credible outing the week before at Fresno State. The team appeared headed in the right direction.

But any momentum from a fourth-quarter flurry was squashed in a hurry in Louisiana. Now the Vandals are back where they left off coming into today’s 2 p.m. matchup with New Mexico State at the Kibbie Dome.

“I felt like we took strides as (if) we were going to win,” safety Virdell Larkins said of hanging with Fresno State. “Then with the Louisiana Tech game, I was disappointed in our whole outcome.”

So was it a step backward?

“No, no, because every week we do more things better,” Larkins said. “If we take care of the little things, the big things will fall into place. … Coach Akey tells us that every week, and I can see it watching film, too.”

The Vandals (1-7, 0-4 WAC) can only hope handling the small details will lead to a long-awaited victory. After four road trips in five weeks, Idaho returns to the Palouse for homecoming ranked last in the FBS in total defense and having lost 23 straight games to divisional peers.

“We come back home and we maintain the belief and expectation that there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Akey, in his second year guiding UI. “…We talked to the players that nothing’s going to be handed to you. Nothing is going to be easy in this world, in this life, or in this game.”

Among the Vandals’ biggest weaknesses this season has been getting to quarterbacks. That could be a major problem today against the Aggies, who feature a wide-open offense piloted by Chase Holbrook.

The Aggies (3-3, 1-1) rarely run the ball, opting instead for short passes all the over field. Holbrook is No. 2 in the WAC in passing efficiency and total offense (275.3 yards per game).

His expertise will be countered by an Idaho offense that sputtered last week after clicking in the second half at Fresno State. The production of Deonte Jackson and the Vandals’ running game in particular has dropped considerably.

Still, NMSU coach Hal Mumme labeled the Vandals “a scary group.”

“I think they’re getting better on offense,” he said. “And they’re always tough at home. It’s hard to play in that dome.”