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Defense saves the day for 'Dogs

Defense and special teams make up for a struggling offense as Bulldogs win 40-10 over Vandals

Daniel Bickley / The University of Idaho Argonaut

Marcus McCauley takes down Idaho’s Lee Smith in Saturday’s 40-10 victory. McCauley contributed to a smothering defense that led to the demise of the Vandals.

By Keanan Lamb
The Collegian

Saturday’s loss to No. 24 Fresno State (5-1 overall, 3-0 WAC) was expected from the Idaho football team.

The Bulldogs came into the game averaging 44 points a game, 30- point margin of victor, and leading the nation in third-down conversions at more than 50 percent. Fresno State coach Pat Hill’s squad came close to matching all those numbers with its 40-10 win over Idaho (1-6, 1-3) at the Kibbie Dome.

Despite the final score, the Vandals hung with the Bulldogs through the first half. The Vandals opened the game with a five-play, 80-yard drive culminating in a 9-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Jason Lee Brown. Sophomore tailback Rolly Lumbala had the highlight of the drive, a 46-yard scamper that set up Brown’s run.

On the reciprocating drive, Bulldog running back Wendell Mathis fumbled the pitch from quarterback Paul Pinegar and Vandal linebacker Mike Anderson recovered it, which sent the 15,000-plus fans in attendance into a frenzy.

Fresno State leads the nation in punt-return average, something Idaho coach Nick Holt knew would be a factor in the game.

“They are a phenomenal team with an excellent special teams,” Holt said earlier in the week.
His concerns were validated after Mathis’ fumble.

A quick three-and-out ensued as the Bulldog defense buckled down and receiver Joe Fernandez took Vandal kicker Mike Barrow’s punt 72 yards to tie the score.

On Idaho’s next drive, another three-and-out followed by a botched snap forced Barrow to illegally kick the ball off the turf.

Unfortunately, the ball was driven straight to special-teamer Jaron Fairman who ran the ball back 26 yards for Fresno State’s second punt- return touchdown of the quarter.

“There are three facets in the game of football and we did well on two of those,” Hill said. “Our special teams was outstanding and our defense really played very, very well.”

For the rest of the game, Vandal quaterback Steve Wichman was unable to orchestrate the offense as well as he did on the opening drive.

“First half we really thought we were in the game,” said Wichman. “We felt like they weren’t doing anything we couldn’t handle, and we felt like we had the momentum.”

With the Vandals trailing at halftime by only six points, the team was optimistic.
Fresno State came out of halftime and immediately began playing at the level expected of them, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half, including a 58-yard touchdown run by Mathis.
Pinegar completed 21 of 33 passes for 228 yards and had one touchdown.
“Second half we got the offense going,” Hill said. “Give Idaho credit; they did a good job on team defense. It’s a team victory and I’ll take it.”


	October 24, 2005 California State University, Fresno