THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016

You may have noticed Jake Luton’s performance last Saturday in his debut at quarterback for Ventura (junior) College in Ventura, Calif.

Luton, who transferred from Idaho over the summer, completed 36 of 55 passes for 487 yards and six touchdowns in a 47-40 victory over Santa Barbara Community College last Saturday.

For that, he was named California Community College Athletic Association state offensive player of the week.

Luton was obviously good enough to play Division I ball. Last year at Idaho, as a redshirt freshman, he filled in quite capably when starting quarterback Matt Linehan was injured, rushing for five touchdowns and throwing for one more.

Problem was, as long as Linehan, a redshirt junior this year, was healthy and playing well, Luton’s playing time in Moscow was going to be limited.

So, with the prospects of waiting two more years — when he would be a senior — for his shot at starting, you couldn’t blame Luton for wanting to play elsewhere.

Emphasis on play.

As local ties would have it, one of the quarterbacks already on the roster at Ventura is Michael Goggin, QB at Lake City High as a senior in 2014, when the Timberwolves made it all the way to the semifinals of the state 5A playoffs.

Goggin greyshirted last year, and was the No. 2 quarterback coming out of spring ball this year before Luton arrived. He and another freshman are backing up Luton, who has just the one season of eligibility at Ventura.

“Jake is a difference maker and was a guy we couldn’t pass up when we were alerted he was leaving Idaho,” Ventura coach Steve Mooshagian said. “We had a few connections (in recruiting him) ... Dennis Erickson gave him a glowing recommendation as his son Bryce (now the Lake City coach) was his QB coach at Idaho.”

SPEAKING OF local ties, former Coeur d’Alene High standout tight end Chase Blakley made his college debut last Saturday in Boise State’s romp at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Blakley, a redshirt sophomore, missed last season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Officially, he started the first college game he played in, as the Broncos used a three-tight-end formation on the game’s first play.

He didn’t catch a pass, but just making it back from a potentially devastating injury such as an Achilles is enough of a start.

WHEN MIKE Price was Washington State football coach and the Cougars were in the midst of one of their better seasons, his Tuesday news conferences with area media were also carried live on ESPNEWS.

These days, the World Wide Leader might want to consider making Mike Leach’s pressers part of their afternoon programming lineup.

When not doling out dating advice to WSU students, the Cougars coach is wont to offer up other off-the-wall answers, instead of the usual coach-speak.

For instance, asked about the prospects of facing a hostile environment at Boise State on Saturday, Leach replied, “There’s a point where it’s just noise ... I don’t think I’m going to get shot or anything. ”

Talking about the successful coaches that have come and gone from Boise State, Leach said, “Some of those guys, I’m sure, wish they’d stayed there.”

Asked for his thoughts on Boise State’s blue turf, “I’m glad I don’t have to watch film on it, to be honest with you,” he said. “I think animal watch groups need to make sure they keep that thing covered up so ducks don’t break their necks trying to land on it.”

Asked if he preferred hamburgers or hot dogs on Labor Day, Leach said, “Definitely hamburger; I hate hot dogs.”

As for barbecue side dishes, “potato salad, I hate that. Beans can literally be a work of art ... or they can be Van Camp’s out of a can. But I’ll tell you one thing — the country of England loves Van Camp’s Pork & Beans.”

THE SEXY storyline is Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien facing the program where his uncle, Mark Rypien, starred back in the 1980s. Brett said one reason for choosing BSU over WSU was “the chance to step out of (Mark’s) shadow and into Kellen Moore’s.”

Understandable. Moore remains revered in the Treasure Valley, his status even perhaps supplanting that of Ian “The Bachelor” Johnson. Moore was a storied 50-3 as Broncos QB. Rypien, as you may have heard, was a Super Bowl MVP, and remains one of the favored sons in the Inland Northwest.

Brett Rypien, now a sophomore, earned the starting job in Boise early in his true freshman season, and doesn’t appear to be giving it up anytime soon.

But more importantly for WSU, the Cougars entered the season pretty much counting on a bowl appearance for the third time in the last four seasons.

Not that WSU couldn’t overcome an 0-2 start and still get to a bowl, but getting whacked twice in two weeks by teams in your own backyard could have lasting effects the remainder of the season.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.