▁a ▁margin ▁of ▁ 2 4 – 1 5 . ▁After ▁a ▁ 3 5 – 2 8 ▁loss ▁to ▁former ▁head ▁coach ▁John ▁L . ▁Smith ▁and ▁Ut ah ▁State , ▁the ▁V and als ▁defeated ▁I - AA ▁Eastern ▁Washington ▁by ▁a ▁margin ▁of ▁ 3 7 – 2 7 ▁and ▁New ▁Mexico ▁State ▁by ▁a ▁margin ▁of ▁ 3 4 – 1 9 . ▁After ▁a ▁ 2 4 – 1 7 ▁loss ▁to ▁North ▁Texas ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 6 , ▁the ▁V and als ▁demol ished ▁Bo ise ▁State ▁by ▁an ▁aston ishing ▁ 6 4 – 1 9 . ▁ ▁Id aho ▁went ▁ 5 – 6 ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁A ▁ 1 4 – 1 0 ▁loss ▁to ▁Air ▁Force ▁on ▁August ▁ 3 0 ▁k icked ▁off ▁the ▁season . ▁Then , ▁the ▁V and als ▁recorded ▁consecutive ▁shut outs , ▁demol ishing ▁I - AA ▁oppon ents ▁Port land ▁State ▁ 4 6 – 0 ▁and ▁Id aho ▁State ▁ 4 3 – 0 . ▁After ▁a ▁hum bling ▁ 4 1 – 1 0 ▁loss ▁to ▁U CF ▁on ▁September ▁ 2 0 , ▁Id aho ▁defeated ▁North ▁Texas ▁by ▁a ▁count ▁of ▁ 3 0 – 1 7 ▁and ▁I - AA ▁U C - D av is ▁by ▁a ▁count ▁of ▁ 4 4 – 1 4 . ▁T orm ey ' s ▁team ▁suffered ▁a ▁three - game ▁losing ▁stre ak ; ▁falling ▁to ▁Nev ada