Maybe it was the cobwebs still straggling from the offseason, or maybe it was the row of NFL scouts watching closely from the press box, but Idaho’s season opener against Sacramento State was not the show that many fans expected to see from the Potato Bowl champs.
A shaky offense managed to put up 28 points on the board in the win, but it wasn’t a pretty show getting there. By the end of the game the Vandals gave up three turnovers, one fumble and two interceptions.
The Sacramento State defense continually pounded senior quarterback Matt Linehan, leaving fans on the edge of their seats more than once as the whole Dome watched and hoped he would get up and walk off uninjured after each hit. Linehan shook it off each time and continued to move the offense forward to pull together the Vandals’ four touchdowns.
ESPN nearly guaranteed Idaho to come out victorious, yet the home team didn’t look like the clear winner for the majority of the game. After a scoreless first quarter, it was the Hornets that jumped on the board first with a field goal before Idaho made it in the end zone.Just when Idaho looked to be building momentum, instead of taking a knee just seconds before the half, the team ran another play, resulting in a turnover just yards away from their own end zone.
The offense did their job on the field but it was the defense that secured the win. Idaho kept Sacramento State completely out of the end zone, holding them to just two scores from field goals. This is the fewest points allowed by the defense since the Vandals took down Utah State 28-6 in November of 2010.
Junior linebacker Tony Lashley led the team with a total of eight tackles. Junior linebacker Kaden Elliss put on a good show with four tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.
It is early in the season. Idaho has shown they can take each game and each mistake and turn it to their advantage throughout the season. The Vandals take down of the Hornets was not done in the most graceful of fashions, but what counts is that the team did it regardless and found a way to come out on top. Now there is nowhere but up for the returning champs.
Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected]