StarBulletin.com

Idaho sees hope despite another blowout loss


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POSTED: Sunday, November 23, 2008

Whenever Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle wasn't flat on his back, he was running for his life last night.

As a result, the Idaho offense rarely got in gear during its 49-17 pasting by the Warriors.

After a smooth opening drive that gave the Vandals a 7-0 lead, Enderle and his Idaho teammates were traumatized by UH's tenacious pass rush. The sophomore was sacked seven times and threw three interceptions.

“;They (the Warriors) weren't putting any extra pressure on by blitzing or anything like that,”; said Enderle, whose 17 interceptions this season are close to matching his 20 touchdown passes. “;It was their front four. It's a testament to them and how hard they play. We couldn't settle into a rhythm after that first drive up until the next time we scored a touchdown (in the fourth quarter). We couldn't throw downfield against them. They're a good team and their motors are always working. And we could have done better up front.”;

Idaho coach Robb Akey was a bit more direct about the play of his offensive line.

“;We didn't protect, and we didn't block well enough to run the ball, either,”; said Akey, whose team rushed for only 49 yards.

Enderle missing dynamic H back Eddie Williams, who is out with an ACL injury.

Enderle ended up completing 19 of 31 passes for 164 yards and two TDs. It was the eighth blowout loss for Idaho, including a 70-0 dumping by Arizona in the season opener.

“;We can't forget this season,”; said freshman kick returner Kama Bailey, a Damien alumnus, who became Idaho's all-time, single-season leader in kickoff-return yardage. “;We'll learn from this. I feel bad for our seniors who are leaving, but we've got a lot of young guys and a bunch of talent and I think we should be up there (next season).”;

“;I think Kama's right,”; said Akey, who is 3-21 after two seasons. “;We can't forget this season. It's got to hurt us not to win. These are growing pains. There are rewards that come from that. A lot of the young guys have done a lot of good things this year.”;

Sophomore linebacker JoJo Dickson, a Baldwin product who managed four tackles last night, is also looking to the future.

“;We all want to come back faster, stronger and smarter, and be animals out there,”; he said.

It was not a night to remember for Idaho junior safety Jeromy Jones, who was ejected from the game after Hawaii's second touchdown.

“;They said I punched a referee,”; he said. “;But there were some players he was trying to separate and I guess he got hit. But that's ridiculous. I would never punch a ref.”;