Idaho's top priority: Stop Fresno State's Ryan Mathews

A few weeks ago, the Idaho Vandals tried their luck against the nation's top rushing offense and were run off the field by Nevada.

On Saturday, the Vandals take on the nation's leading rusher in Ryan Mathews when Fresno State comes to the Kibbie Dome for a key nationally televised conference game.

The winner of the game on ESPNU keeps its hopes for a WAC title alive.

And for the Vandals, the key to staying in the WAC race is to do a better job against Mathews than they did against Nevada in that 70-45 loss. The Wolf Pack rushed for 484 yards against Idaho on Oct. 24.

"We all have to take care of our responsibilities and take care of every gap on the line," safety Shiloh Keo said. "We're all just going to have to swarm to the ball and make sure all of our assignments are done correctly."

Mathews, a junior, has rushed for 1,316 yards in eight games. He averages 7.4 yards per carry and has 11 touchdowns this season. He needs four rushing touchdowns to tie the Fresno State career record with 35.

"That cat runs hard and that's the first thing you notice when you look at him," coach Robb Akey said. "He's got a very good burst and a physical way about him. I've got a ton of respect for him as a running back."

Behind Mathews and a capable passing game, the Bulldogs have the conference's second-highest scoring offense (35.5 points per game) and rank second in total yards (455.4).

On the other side, the Bulldogs rank second in the WAC in points allowed (22.6) and yards allowed (372.5). Fresno State has won four consecutive games since a 51-34 home loss to Boise State and hasn't allowed a second-half point in the past two games.

Mathews has been a primary reason.

"You just understand that the guy is going to make some runs," Akey said. "We've got to keep his big runs to a minimum. I think that's the key. If he makes one, don't get freaked out about it, load it up and play the next play.

"To say you're going to go in there and stonewall this guy, you're crazy to say that. He's a very talented football player and he's going to make plays."

Keo, who leads the WAC in tackles at 9.8 per game, said it will take a team effort to keep Mathews under wraps.

"As a whole, we have to come downhill and wrap the guy up because he's a playmaker," he said.

Akey said the Vandals will need more than just defense to stop Mathews. The third-year coach said Idaho's offense and special teams also must make big plays to counteract whatever Mathews does.

"We just have to bust our tail to make sure we make more big plays than they do," he said.