MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Hawai'i teammates patted safety Spencer Smith on his shoulder pads and praised his relentless performance in a 35-23 loss to Idaho yesterday.

Opponents went out of their way to tell him "good game" and a TV camera crew stood by to interview him. If UH had a defensive player of the game, it was Smith.

But for all his game-high 12 tackles and otherwise sturdy play, Smith the perfectionist said he was haunted by the one play that got away. One bad decision in 56 defensive plays.

"I felt I played a good game ... maybe my best one — until the end," Smith said. "That last play stays in my head."

Hoping to give the Warriors the big defensive breakthrough they had lacked all afternoon, the junior from Marietta, Ga. tried to anticipate a play and got burned on a third-and-35 situation in the fourth quarter that allowed the Vandals a first down, prolonging a drive that eventually gave Idaho a 35-17 lead.

"I thought they were going to do an out-route and I started driving it," Smith said. "And they ran a post (route). I ended up catching up to him (Max Komar) but it was too late (for a 36-yard gain).

"I was just trying to make a play when we needed one. We hadn't gotten any turnovers and I really wanted to make a play to help us in that situation."

Smith said, "Coach (Greg McMackin) says we lose as a team, but I put a lot of blame on myself for that one play."

Associate head coach Rich Miano said, "It seemed like every time I looked up he was making plays, making tackles. Other than that play near the end, he was the guy in there making tackles, making plays.

"Not a whole lot went right for anybody today on our side today, but I thought, until the very end, he played very well," Miano said.

'WILDCAT' WORKS

Running back/slotback/quarterback Inoke Funaki got his first touchdown of the season off the "wildcat" play — a direct snap.

Funaki took the snap when quarterback Bryan Moniz shifted and ran 8 yards up the middle for UH's first touchdown with 8 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the second quarter to tie the score at 7.

"The line did a great job and there was a huge hole," Funaki said. "I was excited when I saw that room."

A second on second-and-goal from the 2-yard line later in the quarter resulted in a 3-yard loss.

CLOSE CALL

UH coach Greg McMackin defended his choice to go for a touchdown off a fake field goal on fourth-and-goal from the Idaho 9-yard line with 4 minutes 15 seconds left in the second quarter.

UH lined up as if for a 25-yard field-goal attempt by Scott Enos but Funaki, the holder, fired a pass to running back Leon Wright-Jackson, who was stopped at the 2.

"I thought we had it," McMackin said. "We came pretty close to it. We obviously didn't execute it (well). I still think it was the right call."

CHEERS FOR LEON

Wright-Jackson, from nearby Pascoe, Wash. had his own considerable rooting section.

"I had about 60 friends and family members," Wright-Jackson said. "They were pretty loud. I could hear them."

Wright-Jackson had nine carries for 37 yards as UH's most productive rusher.