MOSCOW, Idaho - There is no denying a win is a win. Some wins, however, leave a greater sense of fulfillment.

That is not to say the Idaho Vandals disrespected Idaho State University. On the contrary. The Vandals were highly complimentary of the Bengals after being pushed to the limit before escaping their home opener with a 27-24 non-conference victory before 15,161 Idaho fans at the Kibbie Dome.

It's just they know they can, and must do better to be successful as they head into their non-conference finale and then on to their Western Athletic Conference schedule.

"It's a win," Idaho coach Dennis Erickson said. "I'm not going to give it back to anybody. Idaho State hung in there and played well. You have to give them credit."

"Am I satisfied with winning? Yes, I love winning. I love winning. Am I satisfied totally with how we played? No."

Erickson liked what he saw offensively in the first half as the Vandals put up 17 of their 27 points. What he didn't like during those quarters was the Bengals'ability to convert big plays, particularly the one that allowed ISU to close to within 17-10 at the half.

In the third quarter, he was pleased with a stalwart defensive effort by the Vandals but somewhere during those 15minutes, the wheels started to spin offensively and Idaho converted only a 29-yard field goal to go up 20-10 entering the final period. That tone continued until the midpoint of the fourth quarter when Idaho State closed the gap to 20-17 on an 18-yard pass from Michigan transfer Matt Gutierrez to Akilah Lacey with 6:11 to play.

Tthe Idaho bench took notice. The Vandals took the kickoff 80 yards on 10 plays with junior college transfer Brian Flowers popping free to score from nine yards out with 2:27 to play. Tino Amancio's PAT kick was good for a 27-17 advantage.

The Bengals, however, weren't finished. They took advantage of a penalty on the kickoff to start near midfield on a drive that eventually covered 60 yards and was capped when Gutierrez went over from one yard out. The successful PAT made it 27-24 with 50 seconds remaining.

Idaho State attempted an onside kick, which Idaho's Marlon Haynes successfully covered and the Vandals were able to run out the clock.

"There were some good and some bads," Erickson said. "Obviously, I thought the first half offensively we played as well as we have all year. Then we got into the third quarter and stalled; didn't do anything. But we did what we had to at the end of the game. The second half, defensively, we played better than we did in the first. The problem that we have on defense is we're giving up the big plays."

Some of the highlights for Erickson were Steve Wichman's steady passing (19-of-29 for 266 yards, although he was intercepted once), the combined running of Flowers, Jayson Bird and Rolly Lumbala;  the play-making of receivers Wendell Octave and Marlon Hayes; the steady game-in, game-out effort of linebacker David Vobora, and the craftiness of cornerback Stanley Franks (two interceptions).

"There was some improvement," he said. "There was no question about that."