Idaho beats the Bulldogs on two late TDs

2009 Idaho Vandals ... Head Coach: Robb Akey

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 1-11
2009 Record: 7-2

9/5 at NMSU W 21-6
9/12 at Washington L 42-23
9/19 SDSU W 34-20
9/26 at No Illinois W 34-31
930 OPEN DATE
10/3 Colorado St W 31-29
10/10 at SJSU W 29-26
10/17 Hawaii W 35-23
10/24 at Nevada L 70-45
10/31 La Tech W 35-34
11/7 Fresno State
11/14 at Boise State
11/21 OPEN DATE
11/28 Utah State
12/5 OPEN DATE

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 2-10
2008 Record: 2-10

8/30 at Arizona L 70-0
9/6 Idaho State W 42-27
9/13 Western Mich L 51-28
9/20 at Utah State L 42-17
9/27 at SDSU L 45-17
10/4 Nevada L 49-14
10/11 at Fresno State L 45-32
10/18 at La Tech L 46-14
10/25 New Mexico St W 20-14
11/1 San Jose State L 30-24
11/8 OPEN DATE
11/15 Boise State W 45-10
11/22 at Hawaii L 49-17
11/29 OPEN DATE

Idaho Vandals

Oct. 31
at Idaho 35 …. Louisiana Tech 34
Idaho got a two-yard touchdown run from DeMaundray Woolridge in the final minute, and Louisiana Tech’s Matt Nelson missed a 56-yard field goal attempt left as the Vandals escaped with the win. Idaho started out hot with Justin Veltung taking the opening kickoff 94 yards for a score, but Louisiana Tech roared back with 21 first quarter points on two Ross Jenkins throws and a three-yard Daniel Porter touchdown run. The Vandals kept fighting with two Nathan Enderle touchdown passes to Max Komar coming from 36 and 32 yards out, but it took too short Woolridge runs in the final six minutes to get the win.
Player of the Game: Idaho QB Nathan Enderle completed 25-of-45 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Louisiana Tech: Passing: Ross Jenkins, 17-30, 220 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Phillip Livas, 3-73, Receiving: R.P. Stuart, 6-73
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 25-45, 327 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Deonte Jackson, 7-57, Receiving: Max Komar, 7-133, 2 TD
What It All Means: The dream season continues on for the Vandals. At 4-1 in WAC play, there’s still the shot there for the conference title with huge games against Fresno State and Boise State up next, but to have any shot, the run defense has to get a lot better in a hurry, and winning the turnover margin is a must. Idaho was -3 against Louisiana Tech and it almost proved costly at home. 

Oct. 24
at Nevada 70 … Idaho 45
Nevada rolled up 662 yards, including 484 on the ground, with QB Colin Kaepernick throwing for two scores and running for four including dashes from 35 and 75 yards in the first five minutes of the second half to help the Pack pull away. In a game of big home runs, with the two teams combining for 1,156 yards, Nevada started out with Kaepernick touchdown runs from 11 and 61 yards, and Vai Taua running for an 89-yarder, on the way to a 21-0 lead. But Idaho kept fighting with Maurice Shaw catching two 73-yard touchdown passes in the second quarter and with Max Komar catching three scoring passes in the second half, but the Vandals weren’t able to keep up.
Player of the Game: Nevada RB Colin Kaepernick completed 13-of-21 passes for 178 yards and two scores, and he ran 15 times for 23 yards and four scores.
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 15-26, 342 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Deonte Jackson, 7-88, 1 TD, Receiving: Max Comar, 10-136, 3 TD
Nevada: Passing: Colin Kaepernick, 13-21, 178 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Colin Kaepernick, 15-230, 4 TD, Receiving: Brandon Wimberly, 5-62 
What It All Means: Just dismiss the beating. Idaho threw extremely well to try to keep up with Nevada, but no one’s stopping the Wolf Pack attack right now. If the team really is the real deal, it forgets about this rough road trip immediately and takes advantage of the finishing kick with three home games in the final four. Beat Louisiana Tech next week, and this will be forgotten. If the passing game continues to click, with Nathan Enderle continually able to bomb away, then there will be at least two wins in the final four games.

Oct. 17
at Idaho 35 … Hawaii 23
Hawaii’s Bryant Moniz threw for 360 yards, connected with Greg Salas on a 21-yard touchdown pass, and ran for a 15-yard score, but it wasn’t enough to overcome four touchdown runs from DeMaundray Woolridge and a 14-of-17 passing day from Nathan Enderle. Enderle connected with Maurice Shaw for a 60-yard score in the first quarter and Woolridge scored from 28, four, one, and six yards out with his final two touchdown runs allowing the Vandals to pull away.
Player of the Game: Idaho RB DeMaundray Woolridge ran 17 times for 81 yards and four touchdowns.
Hawaii: Passing: Bryant Moniz, 30-42, 360 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Leon Wright-Jackson, 9-37, Receiving: Greg Salas, 10-111, 1 TD
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 14-17, 226 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Princeton McCarty, 16-89, Receiving: Daniel Hardy, 3-62
What It All Means: Talk about pitching a perfect game offensively, Idaho got a nearly perfect game from QB Nathan Enderle, the offense converted 8-of-10 third down chances, and DeMaundray Woolridge was a closer to put the Warriors away. Idaho is bowl eligible … let that sink in. After so many disastrous seasons, the Vandals are on a five-game winning streak and are in the thick of the WAC title chase. The run defense leads the WAC and is 14th in the nation, and now it’ll be in for a fight against Nevada. The finishing kick is rough, but one more win will ensure a trip for a 13th game. 

Oct. 10
Idaho 29 … at San Jose State 25
DeMaundray Woolridge scored on a five-yard dash with 1:10 to play to give Idaho the win. The Vandals committed 11 penalties and four turnovers, but they were saved by three Trey Farquhar field goals to get up 22-14. But the Spartans game back in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard Marquis Avery touchdown catch and a 20-yard Tyler Cope field goal for the lead, and then it was up to Brian Reader. The Idaho backup only completed one pass for 11 yards, but he directed the final drive that led to the game-winning score.
Player of the Game: Idaho RB Princeton McCarty ran 16 times for 125 yards and a touchdown.
San Jose State: Passing: Jordan La Secla, 31-43, 302 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Jordan la Secla, 9-19, 1 TD, Receiving: Kevin Jurovich, 8-75
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 14-26, 216 yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Princeton McCarty, 16-125, 1 TD, Receiving: Max Komar, 5-73
What It All Means: Nathan Enderle threw three interceptions, the team committed 11 penalties, and good drive after good drive ended in field goals instead of touchdowns, but Idaho got the road win, is on a four-game winning streak, and is 5-1 with a dying Hawaii team up next. The defensive line has to do more to get into the backfield, the punting game is miserable, and Enderle can’t have too many more games like this, but again, Idaho is 5-1. Take it and run.
Oct. 3
at Idaho 31 … Colorado State 29
Lou Greenwood caught a 39-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 to pull Colorado State within two, but Shiloh Keo stopped John Mosure on the two-point attempt. CSU still had one final shot, but Keo came through again picking off a Grant Stucker pass to seal with win. The Vandals got three touchdown passes from Nathan Enderle including a 45-yarder to Eric Greenwood, but CSU kept the pressure on with four Stucker touchdown passes including a 20-yarder to Dion Morton in the second quarter. But the extra point was blocked forcing the Rams to go for two at the end.
Player of the Game: Idaho FS Shiloh Keo made 15 tackles and the game-saving interception.
Colorado State: Passing: Grant Stucker, 19-35, 297 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Leonard Mason, 18-85, Receiving: Rashaun Greer, 7-125
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 25-38, 333 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: DeMaundray Woolridge, 15-61, 1 TD, Receiving: Eric Greenwood, 6-130, 2 TD 
What It All Means: 4-1?! Really?! These are heady times in Moscow as the Vandals aren’t just winning, but they’re winning with a high-octane offense with Nathan Enderle throwing the ball well and the attack putting up points whenever needed. On a nice three-game winning streak going into the meat of the WAC schedule, bowl eligibility has to be a given with several winnable games up next. A win at San Jose State would be another he boost going into the Hawaii game.

Sept. 26
Idaho 34 … at Northern Illinois 31
Nathan Enderle threw three touchdown passes including a 58-yarder to Princeton McCarty on the way to a 28-13 lead, and then the Vandals had to hang on. Northern Illinois came roaring back late with a four-yard scoring catch from Landon Cox and a one-yard Meco Brown scoring run after a blocked punt to cut it to three with under six minutes to play, but Enderle connected with Eric Greenwood for a key first down and Idaho ran out the clock.
Player of the Game: Idaho QB Nathan Enderle completed 18-of-23 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
Northern Illinois: Passing: Chandler Harnish, 17-23, 184 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Chandler Harnish, 13-62, Receiving: Landon Cox, 5-53, 1 TD
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 18-23, 270 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: DeMaundray Woolridge, 18-144, 1 TD, Receiving: Eric Greenwood, 3-67 
What It All Means: This might be a program-defining win. Idaho did nothing under head coach Robb Akey, but it was able to come up with some wins to start the year against New Mexico State and San Diego State. To travel to DeKalb, Illinois and have an ultra-efficient passing day and a good afternoon from the run defense to get the win is a huge moment. There’s a step up in competition this week against Colorado State, but if the team plays as tight and as crisp as it did this week, that’s a winnable home game.

Sept. 19
at Idaho 34 … San Diego State 20
Idaho set the tone early on with a 74-yard Joseph Dickson interception return for a score and added a four-yard Deonte Jackson touchdown run on the way to a 17-3 lead. San Diego State stayed alive helped by Lane Yoshida field goals from 47 and 40 yards away, but DeMaundray Woolridge scored on runs from seven and 53 yards out to put the game away.
Player of the Game: Idaho RB DeMaundray Woolridge ran 11 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
San Diego State: Passing: Ryan Lindley, 21-35, 200 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Brandon Sullivan, 10-31, Receiving: DeMarco Sampson, 4-36
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 17-30, 232 yds
Rushing: DeMaundray Woolridge, 11-93, Receiving: Max Komar, 5-78
What It All Means: Beating a bad New Mexico State team is one thing, but this San Diego State squad has a little more talent and enough offensive weapons to beat most bad teams. Idaho limited the mistakes, it got the ground game going when needed, and the defense held firm against the run allowing just 55 yards. Nathan Enderle finally had a stable game at quarterback, and he’s going to have to be even better to carry the Vandals by an excellent Northern Illinois team. 

Sept. 12
at Washington 42 ... Idaho 23
Washington ended its 15-game losing slide and gave head coach Steve Sarkisian his first win as the head man as Jake Locker threw three touchdown passes and ran for a three-yard score. The Huskies were up 35-9 in the third quarter after a two-yard Chris Izbicki touchdown grab and coasted the rest of the way. Idaho outgained the Huskies and got two late DeMaundray Woolridge touchdown runs, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Player of the Game: Washington QB Jake Locker completed 17-of-25 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran six times for 18 yards and a score.
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 22-33, 279 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: DeMaundray Woolridge, 7-41, 2 TD Receiving: Daniel Hardy, 6-103
Washington: Passing: Jake Locker, 17-25, 253 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Chris Polk, 19-80, 1 TD, Receiving: D'Andre Goodwin, 3-83
What It All Means: Idaho moved the ball well with Nathan Enderle throwing for 279 yards, and there weren't a slew of mistakes, but too many drives ended in field goals, with Trey Farquhar hitting three field goals when touchdowns were needed. The big problem was the inability of the defense to get off the field, struggling on third downs, but that shouldn't be a problem against San Diego State next week. If the D is even average, the Vandals could pull out the win.

Sept. 5
Idaho 21 ... at New Mexico State 6
Idaho scored the first 21 points of the game, all in the first half, as Nathan Enderle connected with Daniel Hardy for a six-yard score and Max Komar from 38 yards out. Princeton McCarty ran for a one-yard score late in the first quarter. But that would be it for the Vandal scoring. NMSU managed a three-yard Tonny Glynn touchdown, but that was all the Aggies could come up with. Idaho outgained NMSU 350 yards to 342.
Player of the Game: Idaho LB JoJo Dickson made 11 tackles
New Mexico State: Passing: Jeff Fleming, 21-33, 230 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Marques Colston, 14-50, Receiving: Todd Lee, 6-49
Idaho: Passing: Nathan Enderle, 11-21, 179 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Princeton McCarty, 8-96, Receiving: Max Komar, 2-68, 1 TD
What It All Means: This was hardly the start that DeWayne Walker wanted for the start of his reign. The offense didn't know what it wanted to do, struggling to get the downfield passing game going and failing to find ways to get points on the board even though the offense was moving. The defense settled down in the second half, but it couldn't overcome three turnovers from the offense. This is a long learning curve for the program, but this was a big chance to open up strong with a sure win against Prairie View A&M coming up next. Walker has to find playmakers, and that's going to be a season-long process.
What It All Means: Idaho wasn't great, but it was great when it had to be, especially on defense, with a bend-but-don't-break performance that held on in the second half. There are still be question marks about the passing game, Nathan Enderle is a veteran but he's still not making big things happen down the field. The running game isn't going to be good enough to rely on at Washington next week.