MOSCOW — The Jason Gesser era with the Idaho Vandals got off to a good start Saturday — for a little more than one half.
Then it was all San Jose State, which turned a one-point, third-quarter lead into a 42-13 rout before an announced crowd of 14,429 at the Kibbie Dome.
It was the head coaching debut for Gesser, who was promoted from offensive coordinator last month after head coach Robb Akey was fired.
“I hate losing more than I like winning. I’ll tell you that much right now,’’ Gesser said.
David Fales was 27-of-39 for 328 yards and four touchdowns for the Spartans (7-2, 3-1 WAC). Noel Grigsby and Jabari Carr caught a combined 12 passes for 170 total yards of offense.
Idaho (1-8, 1-3) was led by quarterback Logan Bushnell, who started in place of Dominique Blackman, who has been dismissed from the team after reportedly failing three drug tests.
Bushnell, a senior from Puyallup, Wash., was 14-of-29 for 196 yards. His 12-yard touchdown pass to Najee Lovett gave Idaho a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Trey Farquhar added field goals of 41 and 33 yards in the third quarter to make it a 14-13 game in favor of the Spartans, who scored the final 28 points of the game.
“It didn’t go the way we wanted it to go,” Gesser said. “Our defense came out and played very well tonight. Offensively, we need to convert on third down. We just need to convert. We need to execute. We need more reps. Bottom line.”
The Vandals converted only 4-of-18 third-down attempts.
Taylor Davis, a junior from Anthem, Ariz., also played quarterback for Idaho and was 3-of-8 for 11 yards. Senior Mike Scott was the team’s leading receiver with nine catches for 79 yards.
San Jose State’s final score was Bene Benwikere’s 47-yard interception return with 9:07 left in the game.
“There were just a couple quick plays here and there that got away from us,” Bushnell said. “My interception didn’t help.”
Nevertheless, Gesser praised the Vandals’ effort.
“For the most part, I was very proud of how they stayed together. It was good to see that. We have to keep pushing forward,’’ he said.
The win gives San Jose State its first winning season since 2006. The Spartans won despite four turnovers, and outgained the Vandals 413-288.
The Vandals finish their season with three games: at BYU (Saturday), versus Texas-San Antonio (Nov. 17) and at Utah State (Nov. 24).
NORTHERN ARIZONA 50, IDAHO STATE 10
POCATELLO — Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson and Casey Jahn combined for 295 yards rushing and three scores to lead Northern Arizona.
DeBoskie-Johnson ran for 151 yards and had touchdown runs of 34 and 62 yards, while Jahn had 144 yards, including a 66-yard score, as the Lumberjacks (8-1, 6-0 Big Sky) rolled up 616 yards of total offense.
Cary Grossart had 238 yards passing, including an 11-yard touchdown to Dezjon Walker, and a rushing score. The NAU defense recorded a safety to open the scoring, and Jarret Bilbrey returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Kevin Yost threw for 272 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown to Rodrick Rumble, for the Bengals (1-8, 0-6). Rumble caught seven passes for 99 yard, as ISU had 326 total yards.
“There is really not much to say,” Idaho State coach Mike Kramer said. “We are a little young and struggling a little bit with our offensive consistency. Ten points is not enough to beat anybody, especially with as wounded as we are on defense.”
The win was Northern Arizona’s eighth in a row after a season-opening loss to Arizona State. The Lumberjacks last won eight in a row in 1958.
NOTES: Rodrick Rumble now has 2,601 yards receiving in his career. He needs 76 yards to pass Ed Bell to become the program's all-time leading receiver. Rumble has 205 career receptions and needs 15 to be the schools all-time leader in receptions. … Anthony Boyles had a career-high eight tackles. … Kevin Yost has 6,022 passing yards in his career and ranks third all-time in Idaho State history. Russel Hill is second with 7,529 yards. … The 57 yard touchdown reception to Rodrick Rumble was the second longest offensive play of the 2012 season.
