La. Tech's Patton has Idaho's attention

Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton leads the Western Athletic Conference in receptions per game (7.4, which ranks him 18th in the NCAA) and receiving yards per game (120.2, 9th in the NCAA), and has caught five touchdown passes.

Keeping him contained is key for Idaho (1-4, 0-1 WAC), which plays host to Louisiana Tech (1-4, 0-1) in its homecoming game today at the Kibbie Dome.

But then, as Idaho coach Robb Akey said, "everybody else has tried" as well.

"Obviously he's got my attention," Akey said. "We've got to keep his big plays to a minimum and he has made big plays against everybody he's played. (Taulib Ikharo) is another talented receiver, and I have a lot of respect for their running back (Lennon Creer, who has 474 rushing yards and six TDs). They have a lot of skilled players on offense."

Freshman quarterback Nick Isham, who turned 18 on Friday, has passed for 1,231 yards and seven touchdowns, with seven interceptions, for the Bulldogs, who lost their WAC opener 44-26 at home to Hawaii last week.

"They're in a situation like us; they've been in some tight games that could have gone either way," Akey said.

Idaho, which lost 21-20 in overtime at Virginia last week, needs victories in five of its last seven games to become bowl eligible.

Louisiana Tech has lost by one point to Houston, two points to Southern Miss, and in overtime to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs' lone win was in OT over Central Arkansas.

"They probably feel like they had a couple of games that could have swung either way and are probably looking to bounce back against us," Louisiana Tech linebacker Adrien Cole said of Idaho.