IDAHO INSIGHT: Vandals keep bowl goal alive

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, THE VANDALS (5-6, 2-4 WAC) KEPT THEIR GOALS OF A BOWL ALIVE by bouncing back from three straight losses to the WAC's top teams to notch an impressive 28-6 road victory over Utah State. It was coach Robb Akey's first victory over the Aggies as Idaho's head coach, and the Vandals first November win since 2004. Up next is another must-win game, this time at Fresno State.

INSIDE SLANT

Idaho won a must-win game at Utah State, giving the Vandals' bowl hopes some life.

Idaho (5-6, 2-4 WAC) needs to win its final two games of the regular season to attain bowl eligibility. The Vandals play at Fresno State on Saturday, then play host to San Jose State on Dec. 4.

Idaho's 28-6 win over Utah State was its first victory in the month of November since 2004 when Nick Holt's squad beat Arkansas State 45-31 in a Sun Belt Conference game in Pullman, Wash. Saturday's win snapped a 17-game skid in November.

The win also gave Robb Akey his first win over Utah State as Idaho's coach. He'll seek his first win over Fresno State this week. Nevada and Boise State are the only other WAC teams Akey hasn't defeated in his three-plus seasons on the job in Moscow.

Quarterback Nathan Enderle tossed three touchdown passes, including a pair to wide receiver Eric Greenwood, and the Vandals snapped a three-game losing streak by winning in Logan, Utah. Deonte Jackson scored two touchdowns for Idaho, which limited the Aggies to just 242 yards of total offense and didn't allow a touchdown for the first time since the season opener against North Dakota.


NOTES, QUOTES

--Idaho hasn't defeated a team with a winning record this season.

--Safety Shiloh Keo was suspended for the first half of the Vandals' game at Utah State for a helmet-to-helmet hit he made in the Nov. 12 loss to Boise State.

GAME BALL GOES TO: WR Eric Greenwood -- The 6-foot-6 receiver hauled in four passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over Utah State.

KEEP AN EYE ON: LB Treshawn Robinson -- The junior led the Vandals in tackles for the fourth game in a row, making a dozen stops in the victory over Utah State.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have a football team that had a lot of fun playing again. It was a good performance for this football team." -- Idaho coach Robb Akey said after his Vandals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 28-6 victory at Utah State.


STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

LOOKING GOOD: RB Deonte Jackson scored two touchdowns -- one rushing and one receiving -- in the victory over Utah State. He finished with 62 yards rushing and 16 yards receiving. WR John Roberson caught a season-high four passes in the victory over Utah State. LB Robert Siavii made seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and had an interception in the victory at Utah State.

STILL NEEDS WORK: Idaho averaged only 3.0 yards per carry and had only 112 yards rushing in the win at Utah State. The Vandals yielded another sack, upping their season total to 37. Idaho managed only one sack at Utah State and hasn't had a multiple sack game in a month.

ROSTER REPORT:

--RB Deonte Jackson (ankle) returned to the lineup after sitting out a week with an ankle injury.

--G Sam Tupua (undisclosed injury) did not play at Utah State. His status for Saturday's game at Fresno State is uncertain.

--DE Henry Asuega has become a fullback on short-yardage plays for Idaho and serves as the lead blocker on running plays.