Silver lining

MOSCOW - The Silver defeated the Gold 27-14 in the University of Idaho's spring football game Friday night before an estimated 3,300 fans at the Kibbie Dome.

Gold quarterback Nathan Enderle completed 12 of 20 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. Brian Reader, playing mostly for the Silver, was 23 of 31 for 259 yards and two TDs.

One highlight was Robert Hatchett splitting the defense and sprinting 74 yards to score on a pass from Logan Bushnell. Junior college transfer Armauni Johnson pulled in seven passes for 103 yards.

Defensively, Paul Senescall and JoJo Dickson had seven tackles each with four of Senescall's counting as tackles for loss. Linebacker Korey Toomer accounted for the game's lone interception when he picked off Reader late in the scrimmage, while Aaron Grymes, Gary Walker, Isaac Butts and Tracy Carter each had a pass breakup.

"We gained a lot of ground on defense this spring," Idaho coach Robb Akey said. "What I see, and what you probably saw tonight, was a defense that has gained confidence. It has a swagger. I'm very happy to see that."

Trey Farquhar was successful on a 53-yard field goal as well as a 34-yarder to go with five PATs. Bobby Cowan boomed a 62-yard punt during an evening when he punted six times for an average of 40.5 yards.

Idaho opens its season Sept. 2 at home vs. North Dakota.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

PASSING - Gold, Enderle 12-20-0-113, Reader 6-12-1-78. Silver, Reader 17-19-0-180, Bushnell 7-10-0-74.

RUSHING - Gold, Jackson 6-12, McCarty 2-11. Silver, White 12-23, B. Davis 4-17, Weaver 2-17.

RECEIVING - Gold, Greenwood 4-35, Hardy 3-33, Shaw 3-39. Silver, Johnson 7-103, Weaver 4-31.