MOSCOW, Idaho – There were smiles all over the Kibbie Dome Saturday evening and none bigger than that of football coach Paul Petrino, whose Idaho Vandals had just put together their most complete game since he took over in December 2012.

That all-around effort resulted in Idaho's 29-17 victory over New Mexico State in a Sun Belt Conference game that left the Homecoming crowd celebrating.

“It feels awesome,” said Petrino, who, with his seven-year-old daughter Ava by his side, noted the trickle down impact of the victory on not only the coaches and players but their families as well. “They're the ones that really know how hard we work and the hours we put in and how we live and die for each game.”

The Vandals did it without starting quarterback Matt Linehan, who left the game on the first series after leading a drive deep into Aggie territory. In stepped Chad Chalich, who started seven games for Idaho last year before being sidelined with an injury. Chalich completed 18 of 32 passes for 192 yards. He was intercepted once but he engineered the scoring drives and threw on TD pass in helping the Vandals stop a season-long skid.

“Chad came in and just competed his butt off,” Petrino said. “I'm really proud of Chad.”

Chalich's favorite target for the night was senior Joshua McCain, who had 11 catches for 139 and caught the lone TD pass.  Helping keep balance in the game was senior running back Jerrel Brown, who carried the ball 23 times for 151 yards as the Vandals amassed 310 rushing yards as part of their total 536 – a season best. The 310 rushing yards are the most since they covered 365 against Boise State in 1996.

The offense wasn't the only part of the team with stars emerging. Jayshawn Jordan intercepted two passes and Bradley Njoku grabbed one. Marc Millan had 10 total tackles and Maxx Forde and Quayshawne Buckley each had two tackles-for-loss. Quinton Bradley forced a fumble that Forde recovered. The front kept quarterbacks Andrew Allen and Tyler Rogers on the run and the back seven completely and totally shutdown the Sun Belt's leading receiving in not allowing Teldrick Morgan even one single catch.

Special teams made their impression, too. Austin Rehkow was good on field goals of 19, 30 and 33 yards, and dropped two punts inside the five-yard line.

“It was a great team win,” Petrino said. “That's how you win – as a team.”