Another slow start stymies Vandals, who drop to 0-3

From wire and news services and local reports

MOSCOW — With a chance to make an impression at home for the first time all year, the Idaho Vandals promptly fell behind the Lamar Cardinals by 17 points at halftime. 

The Vandals battled back in the second half and closed to within a score, but ultimately fell 23-17 on Saturday afternoon before 9,015 at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. 

“We have to do a better job starting fast,” said Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr., whose Vandals (0-3) have started slow in all three games — the first two at Cal Poly and at Utah. 

Aiden McCown, son of former NFL quarterback Josh McCown, threw a touchdown pass following his touchdown run, and Andres Sandoval kicked three field goals for Lamar (2-1). 

McCown completed 13 of 22 passes for 159 yards for the Cardinals, ranked 14th in the Stats Perform poll. JoJo Uga rushed 15 times for 105 yards. 

Idaho tried a fake punt on its first possession, but the up back was stopped short at the Vandal 38. However, Lamar missed a 50-yard field goal. 

Idaho caught a break when a Vandal punt took an angled bounce and hit the back of a Lamar player who was on the ground, and the Vandals recovered at the Cardinals 32. 

Idaho then ran a sweet-looking wide receiver screen, but the pass drifted past the line of scrimmage and was caught there, and the TD was negated due to ineligible linemen downfield. 

The Vandals settled for a 38-yard field goal by Lakeland High product Owen Forsman. 

Sandoval kicked 36- and 48-yard field goals in the second quarter and Lamar moved in front. 

McCown ran it in from 3 yards out on a keeper with 1:08 remaining for a 13-3 lead. 

Idaho turned the ball over on downs at the Cardinals' 46 with 28 seconds left, and McCown hit Davin Driskell for a 39-yard gain before the pair teamed up for a 15-yard touchdown and a 20-3 advantage at halftime. 

Joshua Wood ended a 60-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run and Idaho closed within 20-10 midway through the third quarter. The score was set up by a designed screen play to offensive tackle Charlie Vliem, who carried the ball to the 1, a gain of 10. Wood scored on the next play. 

Forsman missed from 49 yards out on the first play of the final quarter before Sandoval sent a 45-yarder through the uprights to put Lamar up 23-10 with 10:45 remaining. 

Idaho made it a one-score game on Ferrari Miller's short touchdown run with 1:24 remaining, but the onside kick failed and the Cardinals prevailed. 

Wood was 20-for-40 passing for 205 yards. He also led Idaho with 50 yards on 19 carries. He was also sacked five times and pressured several other times.  

“The sacks, a lot of time its a shared responsibility,” Ford said. “I do know we got beat on some one-on-one situations (up front). Joshua can make plays, but that isn’t a way to win consistently. We have to protect him better.” 

Idaho plays host to Abilene Christian next Saturday.

Lamar     0    20    0    3    —    23 

Idaho    3    0    7    7    —    17 

First quarter 

Idaho — FG Forsman 38, 5:38 

Second quarter 

Lamar — FG Sandoval 36, 14:15 

Lamar — FG Sandoval 48, 8:13 

Lamar — McCown 3 run (Sandoval kick), 1:08 

Lamar — Driskell 15 pass from McCown (Sandoval kick), :01 

Third quarter 

Idaho — Wood 1 run (Forsman kick), 7:28 

Fourth quarter 

Lamar — FG Sandoval 45, 10:45 

Idaho — Miller 1 run (Forsman kick), 1:24 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — Lamar, Uga 15-105, McCown 8-20, McDowell 3-12, Jenkins 6-7. Idaho, Wood 19-50, Bias 7-15, Miller 6-13, Carter 2-12, Golston 2-1, Krahn 1-0.  

PASSING — Lamar, McCown 13-22-0-159, Thomas 0-1-0-0. Idaho, Wood 20-40-0-205. 

RECEIVING — Lamar, Thomas 4-30, Driskell 3-55, Simmons 3-39, Girard 1-28, Thompson 1-5, Bonkowski 1-2. Idaho, Jezioro 7-48, Alexander 4-64, West-Baranco 3-21, Harste 2-30, Miller 2-24, Vliem 1-11, Bias 1-7.