MOSCOW, Idaho - Mental mistakes, turnovers, and missed opportunities proved costly for North Dakota as the Fighting Sioux fell to Idaho 45-0 in the 2010 season opener at the Kibbie Dome.
Three Sioux drives came to a close due to fumbles and two ended on Idaho interceptions.
"They are a good team," head coach Chris Mussman said. "They proved that tonight."
Much of Idaho's success was due to quarterback Nathan Enderle. The Davey O'Brien Watch List member went 24-for-37 with 311 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, engineering an attack that generated 547 yards of total offense.
In the second quarter, Enderle hit Justin Vultung on a 44-yard pass, his longest toss of the game.
The game had been a defensive duel to that point, but the Vultung touchdown, coming 5:19 into the second quarter, put the Vandals ahead 17-0 and firmly in control the rest of the way.
Idaho jumped right back on the Sioux to open the second half, succesfully attempting an onside kick. Just five plays and 2:33 later, Troy Vital punched in a 1-yard touchdown plunge to make it a 24-0 game.
On Idaho's ensuing possession, Enderle orchestrated a seven-play, 69-yard drive that ended with his second touchdown pass of the game, a two-yard connection to Eric Greenwood.
With the Vandals well on their way to victory, Idaho reserve quarterback Brian Reader relieved Enderle and promptly found Armauni Johnson on a 54-yard scoring strike just 1:09 into the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 38-0.
Princeton McCarty capped the scoring with a 27-yard scamper with 86 seconds remaining, his second touchdown run of the night.
McCarty finished with 89 yards on 12 carries to lead all runners.
Passing yardage was another key differential as UND picked up just 122 yards, compared to Idaho's 399 yards.
UND senior quarterback Jake Landry (Grand Forks, N.D.) was 19-for-34 for 122 yards. Reserve QB Brent Goska came on for a few plays late in the game, but picked up no passing yards. Goska was more effective on the run, gaining 47 yards on six carries.
On the ground, both teams finished with 148 yards. The Sioux were led by junior running back Josh Murray, who has made a welcomed return to UND after sitting out the 2009 season.
"I'm glad to be playing again," said Murray. "I just wish that my first game back would have gone a bit better."
The Pepin, Wis., native finished with 49 yards rushing, 15 receiving and 21 on punt returns for a total of 85 yards.
Fullback Catlin Solum was UND's leading receiver, catching a career-high seven passes for 45 yards.
Defensively, UND was led by linebacker Dan Hendrickson, who finished with seven tackles (four unassisted) and a quarterback sack. He was one of three players to bring down the quarterback. Redshirt freshman Damon Andrews picked up two of UND's four sacks, both during Idaho's first drive of the second quarter.
The Fighting Sioux will head back on the road next week as they take on Northern Illinois for a 6 p.m. kickoff in DeKalb, Ill., on Sept. 9.
GAME NOTES: UND's game game captains were Ryan Dressler, Jake Landry, Ryan Kasowski, Curtis Dublanko ... UND is now 0-2-0 against Idaho since 1954 ... Since 1991, the Fighting Sioux are 17-4 overall in season openers and 6-4 when opening on the road ... When playing on a Thursday, UND is 8-7-1 overall, 5-3-0 at home and 3-5-1 on the road.
- Go Sioux -
