Many happy returns — Vandals bring back punt, interception for TDs in home-opening rout

From local reports, and wire and news services 

MOSCOW — “Takeaway Tommy” was back, and the Idaho Vandals, ranked fourth in FCS, were dominant throughout much of the game in a 41-13 spanking of No. 17 UAlbany on Saturday afternoon before 11,432 at the Kibbie Dome. 

Idaho (2-1) scored on a punt return and an interception return, and held the Great Danes (1-2), who beat the Vandals in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last year, to two field goals before the visitors scored a late touchdown against the Idaho backups. 

“That was a great win for our team in all three phases,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said. “And another step for our team ... I don’t know if we’ve had any of our ranked wins be so dominating in all three phases.” 

"We scored on defense with Tommy (McCormick), we scored on special teams with (Andrew) Marshall having a great return, we kept Wags (Jack Wagner) clean, there were no sacks by the O-line," Eck added. "We ran the ball well, we were better on third down defensively and offensively than we have been, and we did better defensively in the red zone today; we forced some field goals.”

Despite missing two starters on the offensive line, Idaho ran for 247 yards, led by Nate Thomas with 75 yards and two scores. Eck said Charlie Vliem and Kaden Robnett both suffered season-ending knee surgeries in last week’s win at Wyoming. 

“Very proud of Logan Harris,” Eck said of the fifth-year senior, who got the start on the O-line Saturday. “Grit is one of our core values, and he’s the epitome of grit. He's been on the team for five years, working his tail off the whole time, got his first opportunity to start a football game today in his fifth year, and played very well.” 

The Vandals never trailed, scoring a touchdown on their first drive, driving the field 80 yards in just 1:39 and capped off with a 12-yard Jack Wagner pass to Jordyn Dwyer. 

UAlbany missed a field goal on the game’s first drive, then hit a 25-yard field goal, but Idaho rattled off back-to-back offensive touchdowns before Marshall returned a punt 40 yards for the touchdown to put the Vandals up 27-3 with 7:11 remaining in the second quarter. 

The Vandals jumped all over the Danes in the second half. Thomas’ second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run to extend the lead to 34-3.  McCormick picked off UAlbany quarterback Myles Burkett on the first play of the ensuing drive and returned untouched to the end zone for a 32-yard pick six to put Idaho up 41-3. 

“It feels really good. It’s been a long time since I’ve had an interception,” McCormick said. “It's been almost two years, so to finally get one, and finally get to the end zone ... It helps a lot when your D-line is really getting after that quarterback. He kinda has to rush some reads and gets the ball out real fast, that’s when those takeaways happen. So I’m very appreciative for them.” 

UAlbany added 10 points against mainly second and third-team players in the third and fourth quarters. 

The Vandal offense notched 420 yards offense, including 247 yards on the ground. Nate Thomas tallied 75 yards on eight carries and ran for two touchdowns. Elisha Cummings ran for 71 yards on the day. 

Jack Wagner, listed as probable heading into the game after being injured against Wyoming, was 10 for 20 for 156 yards and two touchdowns on the day.  

Wagner, a redshirt freshman, is 2-0 as a starter after replacing redshirt sophomore Jack Layne, who suffered a broken collarbone in the opener at Oregon and will be out several weeks. 

"Obviously when Jack went down, it’s never a good feeling,” Wagner said. “It was a little hit to the heart, but I knew it was my chance to step up, and I know what I’m capable of.” 

“Really proud of him, how he’s protecting the football,” Eck said of Wagner. “One thing you see with young quarterbacks is they force things, and turn the ball over. With our defense being so strong, a punt’s not a bad play. I even punted on fourth and 1 today, which is against my nature. But I trust this defense. That’s an amazing job in his first two starts to have no turnovers and protect the football.” 

Jordan Dwyer caught five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns, and Mark Hamper caught three passes for 74 yards. The Vandal offensive line did not allow a single sack. 

The Idaho defense tallied four total sacks, five pass breakups and McCormick’s interception return touchdown, the first of his career. The Vandals held UAlbany to just 60 yards rushing on the day. 

Keyshawn James-Newby, who had five sacks through Idaho's first two games to lead the FCS, added his sixth sack against the Great Danes. 

Burkett was 23 of 38 for 290 yards to lead Albany, throwing a touchdown pass and a pick-six. Levi Wentz had five catches for 114 yards. 

Zach Johnson (Lake City High) had three tackles, including one tackle-for-loss. Wayne Queen (Lake City) had one tackle, and Matyus McLain (Priest River) had one tackle, including an 0.5 tackle-for-loss. 

Idaho travels to Abilene Christian next Saturday. 

IDAHO 41, UALBANY 13 

UAlbany    3    0    3    7    —    13     

Idaho    13    14    14    0    —    41 

First quarter 

IDAHO — Dwyer 12 pass from Wagner (kick failed), 8:39 

ALBANY — FG Opalko 25, 3:51 

IDAHO — Thomas 2 run (Pope kick), :51 

Second quarter 

IDAHO — Dwyer 4 pass from Wagner (Pope kick), 12:29 

IDAHO — Marshall 47 punt return (Pope kick), 7:11 

Third quarter 

IDAHO — Thomas 1 run (Pope kick), 7:02 

IDAHO — McCormick 32 interception return (Pope kick), 6:53 

ALBANY — FG Opalko 33, 4:38 

Fourth quarter 

ALBANY — Wentz 19 pass from Burkett (Opalko kick), 1:52 

A — 11,432

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — Albany, Woodell 14-23, Burkett 12-22, Aden 2-9, Uga 5-6. Idaho, Thomas 8-75, Cummings 11-71, Williams 6-37, Cortez-Menjivar 1-28, Buchanan 4-18, Wagner 3-18. 

PASSING — Albany, Burkett 23-38-1-290. Idaho, Wagner 10-20-0-156, Josifek 1-3-0-17. 

RECEIVING — Albany, Wentz 5-114, McGee 5-56, Parker 5-54, Dietz 2-19, Uga 1-15, Cooney 1-12, Carter 1-10, Moses 1-9, Steinfeldt 1-2, Woodell 1-(minus 1). Idaho, Hamper 3-74, Dwyer 5-68, Thomas 1-20, Cummings 1-9, Moore 1-2. 

    Photo by IDAHO ATHLETICS Andrew Marshall (7) of Idaho returns a punt 47 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter against UAlbany on Saturday at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.