Idaho gives Eck first coaching win in home opener

From wire and news services and local reports

MOSCOW — Jermaine Jackson caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt for a score and Idaho dominated the second half in a 42-14 victory over Drake on Saturday before 5,804 at the Kibbie Dome, giving first-year Vandal coach Jason Eck his first win in Idaho’s home opener.

Jackson gave Idaho (1-2) a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 20-yard pass from Gevani McCoy.

Drake (0-3) pulled even by the end of the first quarter on Davion Cherwin's 3-yard touchdown run and took a 14-7 lead 58 seconds into the second quarter on a 3-yard scoring run by Dorian Boyland.

“First, I want to give credit to Drake,” Eck said on the Vandals’ postgame radio show. “I’ve got to do a better job of getting our guys going right away and have them realize, just like we were fired up to play Washington State and Indiana, for Drake, it’s us and North Dakota State were their two big games to play. So they were fired up.”

Eck said the tide turned toward the Vandals midway through the second quarter, with Idaho trailing 14-10.

A long drive resulted in Roshaun Johnson’s 4-yard touchdown run to put the Vandals the lead. Idaho then forced a three-and-out, and marched to Ricardo Chavez’s field goal and a 20-14 halftime lead.

Jackson stretched Idaho's lead to 28-14 with a 79-yard punt-return touchdown early in the third quarter. Chavez added two more field goals and Elisha Cummings scored on a 3-yard run to cap the scoring. Chavez finished with four field goals for the Vandals, who outscored the Bulldogs 22-0 in the second half.

“I don’t want to kick as many field goals as we did,” said Eck, whose team was 3 of 14 on third down, but did convert twice on fourth down. “I think we kicked three field goals in the red zone. I don't like that.”

McCoy completed 17 of 23 passes for 190 yards. True freshman Jack Layne saw his first game action as a Vandal, completing 6 of 8 passes for 113 yards.

“Gevani’s our starter; there’s no quarterback controversy,” Eck said. “Just a planned substitution to get Jack some game experience. Still hope to redshirt Jack if we can, but wanted to get him some game reps, and we did that with a few other guys today.”

Idaho outgained Drake 447-210.

True freshman Anthony Woods rushed for a season-high 83 yards on 11 carries.

Jackson caught three passes for 92 yards and a touchdown and returned four punts for 92 yards and another score.

Fa'avae Fa'avae recorded eight tackles and a pass breakup for the Vandals. Paul Moala had eight tackles and an interception.

Idaho forced the game’s only two turnovers, and now leads the turnover battle on the season 7-2.

Ian Corwin totaled 148 yards on 9-of-21 passing with one interception for Drake.

Idaho travels to Northern Arizona (1-2) next Saturday for the Big Sky Conference opener.