The University of Idaho Argonaut

Vandal wide reveiver Max Komar evades LA Tech safety Tank Calais en route to one of his two touchdown receptions Saturday afternoon in the Kibbie Dome. Komar and the Vandals escaped with a one-point win over the LA Tech Bulldogs, improving to 7-2, securing a spot for the Vandals in the postseason. Nick Groff/Argonaut

The Idaho Vandal football team has continuously been recognized for the way they’ve responded to adversity. It all started with Colorado State and now the Vandals have continued to show they are a team that does not give up.

Most of the game between Idaho and Louisiana Tech was in LA Tech’s favor, as Idaho trailed LA Tech 21-34 by the fourth quarter. Finally, with 52 seconds left in the game and Idaho within a touchdown, Idaho was able to march 67 yards downfield. A final push from running back DeMaundray Woolridge into the end zone, and a successful PAT from Trey Farquhar would give Idaho the lead, 35-34.

As the noise level in the Kibbie Dome grew, the Vandals would line up, prepared for the worst.

LA Tech kicker Matt Nelson kicked the ball, sending it straight down the field, and then it curved, falling into the end zone slightly left from the center of the posts — the kick was no good.

A storm of fans raided the field as the Idaho football team jumped on each other in excitement.

After a sizeable loss to Nevada last weekend, the team and coach Robb Akey said they needed the win to prove to themselves and their fans what kind of team they were.

With the clock at zero and the scoreboard in Idaho’s favor, the Vandals earned win No. 7.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous in my life,” wide receiver Max Komar said.

But with another win under their belts, all the nerves are gone, and the team is prepared to get back on the practice field and work on another.

“Being able to do whatever it took to win the game, that’s what I’m most concerned with,” Akey said. “And that’s what this football team has done seven times.”

In the opening kickoff, Idaho’s Justin Veltung returned the ball and never stopped, racing 96 yards right into the end zone to put Idaho onto the scoreboard first. But the excitement soon fell as Idaho did not carry the momentum into the defense and let LA Tech walk all over them for the first half.

Idaho would not score again the entire first quarter, but LA Tech was able to march downfield and score three touchdowns.

“We just weren’t making plays,” defensive end Aaron Lavarias said. “Our heads weren’t in it, I guess.”

The other part of Idaho’s struggle was the offense. Idaho’s quarterback Nathan Enderle was only 2-for-7 passing for a total of 14 yards and the receivers could not seem to hold onto the ball. One dropped pass was from Komar — it was his first dropped pass of the season.

“That drop really hurt me,” Komar said. “Coach told me to keep my head up and bounce back.”

In the beginning of the second quarter, Idaho was able to put themselves on the board again — this time Komar would catch the pass and run 36 yards for the touchdown. Komar would finish the game with 7 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Pressure from the defense would hold LA Tech for the first possession of the quarter, but Idaho’s offense would be forced to punt and LA Tech would again get the ball. Ten plays and 50 yards later, LA Tech scored again, 28-14.

Both teams would finish off the second quarter with no more touchdowns, but Enderle would go into halftime 10-for-22 passing and one interception.

“We started out really slow,” Enderle said. “I think the second half we really started to just play our football. They weren’t doing anything special we didn’t expect — we just weren’t playing very well.”

By the second half, the team came together and started making plays.

In the beginning of the third quarter, the Vandals’ defense held LA Tech to fourth down, forcing them to punt. Idaho would use its running backs to rush the next 70 yards in 10 plays to give Idaho a touchdown, 28-21.

LA Tech would be held one more time, but a fumble from running back Princeton McCarty on LA Tech’s 17-yard line would give LA Tech a touchdown in the beginning of the fourth quarter, leaving Idaho to trail 34-21.

Although Enderle would throw his only interception of the game, Idaho’s defense would hold LA Tech yet again to fourth down and Idaho would drive seven plays to another touchdown. With five minutes and 50 seconds left in the game, Idaho would get closer to LA Tech, 34-28.

“We have so much pride in each other,” safety Shiloh Keo said. “We as a defense have so much faith in our offense.”

Keo finished the game with nine tackles.

With more coverage from the defense, the Vandals would score their final touchdown of the game — and earn the victory.

“We can’t be overly confident,” Keo said. “Each team from here on out is going to be the one of the better teams in the conference.”
At the end of the game, Akey joked the team helped the ratings.

“I didn’t like the way we played as a football team in the first half,” Akey said. “But all that matters is we get the job done. We can’t rest though, on saying seven wins is enough.”