‘We’re not the same Idaho team.’ Vandals eye historic start to football season
It’s been more than a decade since the University of Idaho football team began the season 2-0 in conference play.
But the Vandals have a chance to do exactly that Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. Kickoff against Northern Colorado (2-2, 1-0 Big Sky) is 7 p.m. Mountain time, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
First-year coach Jason Eck, who said he’s usually not a fan of a later kickoff, is hoping for a “raucous” crowd as Idaho (2-2, 1-0) attempts to start 3-2 for the first time since 2010 and 2-0 in the Big Sky for the first time since 2009.
“This is a great opportunity at home to do that. We’ve got to take advantage of that. Hopefully a great homecoming crowd,” Eck said during a Monday press conference. “I’ll remind you again: Please come to the game. We need you there, whether you’re from Moscow, Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, Potlatch, Deary, all points in between.”
The Vandals started the season with losses to Power 5 conference teams Washington State and Indiana, but have since won consecutive games over Drake and Northern Arizona to renew enthusiasm in a program that hasn’t won more than five games since 2016.
“We’ve just got to keep getting better. We’ve got to keep growing as a team,” Eck said. “I think we have great potential as a team, but we’re not there yet. I don’t know if we’re a team that right now is scaring the Webers and Sac States and Montana and Montana States yet, but I think if we can continue to get better, we can be a team that would scare those guys eventually.”
Defense has been the Vandals’ calling card early. Idaho ranks third in the Big Sky, allowing 20.8 points per game. The Vandals lead the turnover battle 9-2 and have surpassed their takeaway totals from all of last season, with four interceptions and five forced fumbles.
Senior linebacker Fa’Avae Fa’Avae, a Washington State transfer, leads the conference with 39 total tackles.
“The defense rose to the occasion,” Eck told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News after Idaho’s 27-10 win over Northern Arizona last Saturday. “I challenged them before the game, and they did a really good job at responding. They held them scoreless in the second half, which is all you can really ask for.”
Leading the way on the offensive side of the ball has been redshirt freshman quarterback Gevani McCoy, who has completed 69-of-98 passes for 775 yards and six touchdowns, for a QB rating of 152.96. He’s thrown just two interceptions. Redshirt junior receiver Jermaine Jackson has been McCoy’s top target, hauling in 14 receptions for 346 yards and one TD.
“This sends the statement that we’re not the same Idaho team,” McCoy told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News after the NAU victory. “We’re ready to compete for a Big Sky championship, and this game shows the other teams we’re not here to be played with.”
