Smiles were all around Saturday night as the Idaho Vandals kicked off the 2009 season with a 21-6 Western Athletic Conference victory over New Mexico State.

"It does feel great," head coach Robb Akey said. "I'm happy for these players. I'm happy for tonight."

Since fall camp opened, Akey has said there are found milestone games for a team - winning its first road game, first conference game, the season opener and its first home game. The Vandals have to wait for two weeks but three of four were satisfied at Memorial Stadium.

"It was a team win," Akey said. "All three phases of the team contributed. It was a great step forward. I think success early for this team is important."

Veterans performed admirably and newcomers had shining debuts as the Vandals won on the road for the first time since 2006 and opened with a victory for the first time since 1999.

Sophomore Princeton McCarty covered 96 yards on eight carries - and provided a memorable moment but one he likely would like to forget. He managed to squeeze through the line and find an opening with a clear lane to the end zone late in the first quarter. However, 67 yards into the 68-yard distance, he inexplicably fell down. He did score on a one-yard plunge on then next play to give Idaho a 14-0 lead with 3:28 to go in the first.

Daniel Hardy capped the Vandals' first drive when he pulled in a seven-yard pass from Enderle to score with 11:38 to go in the first. Kama Bailey set the stage with a 33-yard return of the opening kickoff. An incomplete pass and a no-gain running play set up third-down-and-10. Enderle found Preston Davis deep for a 48-yard completion and a first-down at the NMSU 19. Running plays by Jackson moved the ball to the Aggie 7 to set up the Enderle-to-Hardy TD. Trey Farquhar's first collegiate kick was good for a 7-0 lead.

The Aggies moved the ball on their first drive but the Vandals held on third-and-three at the Idaho 40 to force a punt, which was downed at the four.

The next few minutes were unusual. First, Max Komar was upended on a reverse and lost the ball as he hit the ground. New Mexico State's Stephon Hatchett grabbed the ball and returned it to the endzone. After a long review of the play, Komar was ruled down and Idaho had the ball - only to have Hatchett intercept Enderle on the next play.

The Aggies ran one play before a fumble, which was recovered by Andre Ferguson to give the ball to Idaho at its own 17. A false start and a couple passes moved the Vandals to their own 32 before Princeton McCarty broke loose and was outrunning the defense only to trip and fall at the NMSU one. He punched through on the next play, which, with Farquhar's kick, gave the Vandals a 14-0 lead.

Komar scored next for the Vandals when he eluded a defender deep, caught the ball at the 14 and wove into the end zone for a 37-yard scoring play. Komar was upended at the end line but he held onto the ball. The play was reviewed to see if he was downed at the one or if a touchdown had been scored. With the TD and Farquhar's kick, the Vandals led 21-0 with 5:31 to go in the half.

New Mexico State's first TD was Tonny Glynn's push through the line to cap a 16-play drive that took nine minutes and 48 seconds. The PAT kick was no good for a 21-6 Idaho lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter - a tally that would hold through the end of the period.

Idaho's first drive of the fourth quarter stalled and the Aggies mounted another length-of-the-field effort. After driving to the Idaho 4, they backed up to the 9 after a false start, which set up Shiloh Keo's goal line interception to end the threat.

"We were telling each other, 'Bend, don't break,' " Keo said.

Notes:

• Trey Farquhar's first collegiate kick was a successful PAT.
• Bobby Cowan's first collegiate punt covered 52 yards.
• Princeton McCarty's 67-yard run was the longest of his career.
• Idaho's first-half shutout of the Aggies was its first opening half shutout since Oct. 1, 2005 when they held Utah State scoreless in the opening quarters of a 27-13 victory.