RUSTON, La. - Whew! Might be the best reaction to the University of Idaho's 24-14 victory at Louisiana Tech Saturday evening.

That and a hearty thanks to the defense for countering the offense's three turnovers with eight Louisiana Tech bobbles, four passes intercepted by the Vandals and four fumbles recovered by the Vandals.

"We played great defense, particularly in the second half," said coach Dennis Erickson after Idaho improved to 4-3 and 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. "Offensively, we did what we had to do when we needed to but we had too many turnovers."

The Vandals march to a 3-0 conference start is the first time since 1999 that they've begun league play that way. Their four victories is more than they've had in a season since that 1999 campaign and this is their first three-win streak since then. All of which created a euphoric atmosphere on the Vandal sideline as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

"It's a good win," Erickson said. "Anytime you come down here and win, it's a good win."

But, it didn't come without a price. Linebacker Jo Artis Ratti (knee), running back Brian Flowers (ankle), and defensive tackle Ryan Davis (shoulder) all left the game with injuries. Their ability to return to the field isn't known yet.

The interceptions were provided by Stanley Franks, who notched his sixth in the last five games; Jaron Williams, David Vobora and Chris Smith. But their heroics weren't the only ones for the defense. Josh Bousman recovered two fumbles, Robert Davis had one and Charles Campbell another. Sacks were provided by Ratti, George Fa`avae and Alex Toailoa.

All told, they limited Louisiana Tech to just 211 yards total offense, 74 rushing and 137 passing.

Offensively, Max Komar led the Vandal receivers with 101 yards, and he needed just two receptions to get there. All told, quarterback Steve Wichman utilized eight receivers in completing 14 of 27 passes for 238 yards.

Again, Flowers and Jayson Bird fueled the ground attack. Prior to his injury, Flowers had 12 carries for 60 yards, an effort mixed in with Bird's 22 carries for 56 yards.

The defense provided the opportunities in the early going that the offense could not convert.  A fumble recovered by Charles Campbell gave the Vandals the ball for the first time but the result was a three-and-out. David Vobora provided opportunity No. 2 with an interception at the Louisiana Tech 44. A 15-yard penalty on the Bulldogs gave Idaho the ball at the 29. But after four running plays and an incomplete pass, the Vandals moved only to the Tech 9 where Tino Amancio missed on a 26-yard field goal attempt.

The next drive, however, was productive. After gaining possession at its own 19, Idaho covered 81 yards in six plays with Bird capping the drive with a five-yard run with 2:30 to go in the first. The scoring play was set up by Wichman when, under heavy pressure, he went deep to Max Komar over the middle on a 52-yard play. Amancio was true on the PAT for a 7-0 Idaho lead.

The Bulldogs mirrored that effort on their next possession when, after a 40-yard kickoff return, they went 52 yards in six plays for their first score, a one-yard run by Jackson just four seconds into the second quarter.

 Of the next five drives, four ended in turnovers, two by the Vandals and two by the Bulldogs, and one a punt.

Both teams capitalized with Tech going first when, after recovering a fumble at their own 40, it used just three plays and a penalty to cover the necessary 60 yards for the go ahead score with 3:53 left in the half. Backup running back Freddie Franklin provided all the yardage with the scoring play an 11-yard run.

The Vandals were forced to punt on their next possession but Chris Smith stopped the Bulldogs with an interception at the Idaho 43. Wichman first found Wendell Octave on the sideline with a six-yard pass before finding Komar over the middle. Komar wound his way down to the La Tech two before finally being forced out of bounds. Bird scored his second TD on the next play when he pushed his way through the middle of the line with :15 to go in the half. Amancio's kick made it 14-14.

The third quarter bore a strong resemblance to the first two, error filled. The Vandals lost one fumble; the Bulldogs gave up the ball on an interception and a fumble.

The interception by Jaron Williams led to the Vandals??? third score. His 11-yard return gave the ball to Idaho on the Tech 21. Two runs by Flowers and two by Bird led to a seven-yard scramble by Wichman that he stretched into the end zone with 4:25 to go in the third. Amancio's PAT made it 21-14.

And, so, too, did the fourth quarter start.

The Vandals successfully faked a punt only to have it called back by penalty. When they did punt, they jarred the ball loose on the return. Robert Davis covered it at the Tech five. While they had to settle for a 23-yard field goal, it gave them a lead, 24-14, of more than one score.