Moscow-Pullman Daily News Blogs

Vandals can drive, but can’t hit end zone

The Idaho Vandals proved they can drive against the Washington Huskies, but they can’t hit the end zone.
Trey Farquhar has three field goals for Idaho, a 44-yarder, a 28 yarder and a 34-yarder as time ran out in the half to pull Idaho within 21-9.
The Vandals were killed by penalties early.
Max Komar had a 22 yard kickoff return, putting Idaho on its 43. But three straight penalties pushed Idaho back to its 28.
Vandal punter Bobby Cowan hit a perfect 45 yard punt that landed on the Washington 3-yard line, but big runs by Chris Polk and smart passing by quarterback Jake Locker moved the Huskies to the Idaho three.
Locker ran it in on a bootleg keeper, Erik Folk converted the PAT, and  UW took a 7-0 lead with 6:24 left in the first half.
Komar followed with his second big kickoff return, scampering for 18 yards to put Idaho on its 34.
On third-and-8 Nate Enderle hit Komar with a 12-yard pass. Komar was slammed to the ground but bounced back up.
Two plays later Enderle connected with Komar again, this time for a 33 yard gain, putting Idaho on the UW 17.
A personal foul facemask pushed Idaho back, and they had to settle for a field goal attempt.
Idaho kicker Trey Farquhar came through big, nailing a 44-yard attempt and putting Idaho on the board with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Huskies followed with a nine-play, 71 yard drive that ended when Locker hit Jori Fogerson with a 24-yard strike. Folk nailed the PAT, giving the Huskies a 14-3 lead with 10:47 left in the first half.
Daniel Hardy came up big for the Vandals in the second quarter, hauling down three passes for 42 yards.
Idaho moved into the red zone, but the Husky defense tightened up, and Farquhar was called in for his second field goal attempt, this one from the 28.
He split the uprights, narrowing UW’s lead to 14-6 with 6:16 left in the half.
UW took over on its 34, and advance to the Idaho 45 where it stalled out on third down - UW converted seven-of-eight third down conversions. Instead of punting, the Huskies went for it with Polk busting up the middle for a 5-yard gain.
Two plays later Locker threw over two Idaho defenders and hit a sprinting James Johnson with a perfect 31-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 left in the half.
Idaho took advantage of every second, driving 61 yards on eight plays and closing out the half with a 34-yard Farquhar field goal.
Enderle closed out the half 16-of-22 with no interceptions and 202 yards. Locker finished 12-of-17 with zero picks, two touchdowns and 183 yards.
Idaho ran 28 plays for 221 total yards while the Huskies ran 32 plays for 246 yards.
Komar leads all receivers at the half with 72 yards.
The time of possession was nearly even, with Idaho controlling the ball for 15:22 and the Huskies for 14:38.