A step forward, a step back

Though the loss dropped them to 0-4, the Idaho Vandals thought they were headed in the right direction after a 40-37 overtime setback to Wyoming at the Kibbie Dome.

The next week was a trip to North Carolina, and though the loss wasn't unexpected, the final score - 66-0 - was painful.

The following week, the Vandals thought they'd turned things around again with a 26-18 win over New Mexico State to open Western Athletic Conference play.

But last week, it was more pain in a 38-7 loss at Texas State, which is in only its second year as an FBS school, and was playing its first game as a member of the WAC.

"Our whole football family is disappointed in what happened on Saturday," Idaho coach Robb Akey said, "because we felt like we had gained some ground in regards to getting a win, getting our first conference win in our first conference game, we had accomplished something.

"We finally did something that we felt like we were capable of doing against some previous opponents (Wyoming, in particular). The Bowling Green game (a 21-13 loss), we felt like we ran out of time.

"We gained some ground, we've got a chance to put it over the edge, and then (came the Texas State game)."

This Saturday, Idaho (1-6, 1-1 WAC) is a four-touchdown underdog at Louisiana Tech (5-1, 0-0).

"We can't let it be the sky falling down," Akey said. "We have to respond, and make it better."

Second-half woes: Texas State outscored Idaho 24-0 in the second half. Idaho has now been outscored 138-30 in the second half this season. Even taking away the LSU and North Carolina games, the Vandals have still been outscored 82-30 after halftime.

"To blame it on one half or another, I guess I haven't looked at it like that being the case," Akey said. "When we have opportunities we have to build off of that. The point of the game really doesn't matter. It's the opportunity in the game that matters and the ability to make more opportunities. A week ago (against New Mexico State) our football team worked hard to make an opportunity for each other, and responded to the opportunity that we made for each other.

“I don’t think we walk into a cloud of darkness (in the second half), or anything like that,” Akey added. “I think its just a matter ... we’ve got to make some things happen, make some plays.”