Vandals 26, Aggies 14
Idaho 10 9 7 0 - 26
Utah State 0 0 7 7 - 14
First quarter: The Vandals totally dominate, outgaining USU 152 to 13 yards. Two big plays set up Idaho scores, a 32-yard run by Joel Thomas and a 59-yard halfback pass from Thomas to Ethan Jones. The Aggies can't take advantage of an interception and holding the Vandals on downs, both in UI territory.
Second quarter: The Aggies set up both Vandal scores. First, punter Jerry Arguello tries to run when faced with a strong rush and gets tackled at the 11-yard line. The Vandals follow with a touchdown pass. Then Jeff Crosbie, who replaced an ineffective Logan Galli at quarterback, fumbles at the 17-yard line. But the Vandals have to settle for another Ben Davis field goal.
Third quarter: The Ags come out strong with Demario Brown going 26 yards on the first play and Crosbie eventually hitting Robert Scott for an 11-yard TD. The Aggies outgain the Vandals 151-23 but are burned by Vern Benard's 91-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Fourth quarter: The Vandals sit on the ball, not throwing a single pass and trying to run the clock. The Aggies move 55 yards in six plays for a touchdown and recover the onsides kick. However, the Ags stall on the 23-yard line and after that, the Vandals run out the final three minutes.
Key play: Late in the third quarter, USU's Brad Bohn kicks a 50-yard field goal to apparently cut the Idaho lead to 19-10. But hold everything. The Aggies are called for holding and on the next play, Vern Benard returns an Aggie punt 91 yards for a touchdown to make it 26-7.
Player of the game: Idaho running back Joel Thomas rushes for 115 yards on 25 carries and also completes a key 58-yard pass to set up the first Vandal touchdown.
Records: Utah State 1-6 overall, 0-1 in Big West; Idaho 5-2, 1-0.
Notable: A homecoming crowd of 14,206 filled less than half of Romney Stadium . . . Demario Brown rushed for 58 yards on 20 carries . . . Arguello's 77-yard punt in the fourth quarter was the second longest in USU history and longest in Romney Stadium history . . . USU has started 1-6 for its worst seven-game record since an identical 1-6 mark in 1991 . . . Three Aggies, quarterback Logan Galli, linebacker Josh Manning and receiver London McBride made their first season starts.
Quotable: "They have had trouble all year with protection. They had three punts blocked this year and three other times where their punter had to scramble out and kick the ball. We wanted to bring 11 guys so if he did scramble we would be able to hit him." - Idaho coach Chris Tormey about the USU punt team.
Next up: at Boise State, Saturday Oct. 24