The Vandals, Ranked Fourth, Hit the Road to Face No. 19 Abilene Christian | Sports

MOSCOW, Idaho – Another week, one other ranked opponent for the Vandals. Fourth-ranked Idaho heads to the Lone Star State for a battle with No. 19 Abilene Christian. The Wildcats have one in all the most potent offenses in the FCS and can face a Vandal staff that boasts one in all the greatest defensive models. It is the first assembly for the two applications. ACU and Idaho have performed in all probability the greatest video games in opposition to Power-4 faculties this season with ACU falling in additional time to Texas Tech and Idaho battling No. 3 Oregon earlier than falling 24-14. 

ABOUT IDAHO: Idaho dominated UAlbany to the tune of a 41-13 end. Idaho scored touchdowns on particular groups with an Andrew Marshall Punt Return TD and a Tommy McCormick Pick Six. The Vandal offense added  4 extra in the most full efficiency of the yr. (*19*) James-Newby leads the FCS with six sacks by means of three video games. The Vandals are ranked seventh as a staff in the FCS in sacks, regardless of enjoying two FBS groups with a powerful custom of offensive line play. Quarterback Jack Wagner has been strong, choosing up wins in his first two begins. Jake Cox, Jordan Dwyer and Nate Thomas lead the Vandals with two touchdowns every on the season. 

ABOUT ACU: The Wildcats have a pair of wins over FCS foes after taking Texas Tech to the brink. ACU is third in complete offense and sixth in scoring offense. Quarterback Maverick McIvor is amongst the most prolific passers in the FCS whereas working again Isaiah Johnson had 5 touchdowns to his identify in three video games. Veteran coach Keith Patterson leads the Wildcats whereas former Idaho Head Coach Nick Holt is the Co-DC and Associate Head Coach. 

PICK SIX

1. ECK'S VANDALS TOPPLE THE MOUNTAIN WEST, AGAIN: Idaho is now 2-0 in video games in opposition to Mountain West applications underneath Jason Eck after topping Wyoming 17-13 final Saturday in Laramie. The Vandals have given up simply 19 complete factors in two video games in opposition to Mountain West opponents in the final two seasons and gave up only one landing between the two video games. The win helps put Idaho in wonderful place because it strikes into the FCS portion of the schedule. 

2. ROAD WARRIORS: Idaho opens with 4 of its first 5 video games on the street to begin the season. The Vandals performed back-to-back FBS opponents in Oregon and Wyoming earlier than internet hosting a ranked UAlbany staff at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. The Vandals shut the non-conference with a sport at Abilene Christian earlier than touring to UC Davis for the Big Sky opener. The Vandals opened the 2023 season with 5 of the first six video games on the street and went 5-1 in that stretch, the solely loss coming in opposition to Cal. In the first two seasons underneath coach Eck, Idaho received as many street video games (eight) as the earlier six seasons. 

3. YOUTH ON OFFENSE: There are 54 offensive gamers listed on the Idaho roster. One, switch tight finish Mike Martinez,  is listed as a senior. Out of the 54, 46 are listed as freshmen or sophomores. The youth motion on the Idaho offense is actual, however the expertise is there to match after the Vandals put collectively Top-10 FCS recruiting courses every of the final two years. 

4. STARTING FRESHman:  Season opening beginning quarterback Jack Layne was injured in the fourth quarter of Idaho's season opener at Oregon. He is anticipated to be out for an prolonged time period, opening the door for redshirt freshman Jack Wagner to step into the beginning roll. Wagner began the Wyoming sport by finishing his first eight passes earlier than finish the sport at 12-21 for 101 yards and a landing.  He did not throw an interception and was sacked simply as soon as in the 17-13. He had one other strong efficiency in opposition to UAlbany, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He has but to flip over the ball. 

5. EXPERIENCE IN THE TRENCHES: Idaho wants to exchange starters at almost each expert place on offense, each nook positions and two of three linebackers, however the line is a unique story. Seven of the 10 offensive linemen on the remaining depth chart of the season return, together with 4 starters. On the protection, six of the eight return, together with all 4 starters from final season. Last yr, 9 of the 10 gamers on the O-line depth chart had been freshmen or sophomores and whereas there may be nonetheless not a single senior on the O-line, the group has the sport expertise of a a lot older squad. 

6. DOMINANT D-LINE: The Idaho defensive position has proven that it could play with anybody. It confronted two robust FBS models and got here away with a Big Sky Conference main seven sacks. (*19*) James-Newby leads the FCS with six complete sacks by means of three video games, surpassing his complete of 5 from all of final yr. The Vandals held Oregon to simply 24 factors, the first time an FCS staff has ever held Oregon underneath 35 factors. It held each groups scoreless in the third quarter and held Wyoming to only one landing on the day. Dallas Afalava has two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble restoration. Idaho did not enable a landing from the first quarter of the Wyoming sport till the remaining minutes of the UAlbany sport.