Sep. 20—MOSCOW, Idaho — Idaho is winding up an eventful nonconference schedule that portends good things for the Vandals if they can take care of business against Abilene Christian on Saturday.
Idaho did not blink in facing Football Bowl Subdivision Oregon, ranked third at the time, before falling 24-14 in their season opener.
The following week, the Vandals beat Wyoming of the FBS Mountain West Conference 17-13. In their first home game, the Vandals rolled 17th-ranked Football Championship Subdivision member Albany 41-13.
Idaho (2-1) has so far overcome the loss to injuries of starting quarterback Jack Layne, who was hurt against Oregon, and starting offensive linemen Charlie Vliem and Kaden Robnett, who were lost for the season against Wyoming.
Ranked fourth in FBS, the Vandals head to Texas to take on the 19th-ranked Wildcats (2-1).
Here are three things to watch.
1. Stop the passing game: Is Idaho going to be facing the Abilene Christian team that took Texas Tech to overtime before falling 52-51, or the team that needed a late 54-yard field goal to beat winless Northern Colorado of the Big Sky Conference 24-22? Wildcats quarterback Maverick McIvor is having himself a senior year. The 2022 Texas Tech transfer has thrown for seven touchdowns in the Wildcats’ Air Raid offense, including 506 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Raiders. Favorite targets are Nehemiah Martinez and Blayne Taylor. Martinez has caught three touchdowns and Taylor has one.
2. Watch out for senior defensive end Kaghen Roach: The United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Roach stifled Northern Colorado with 13 tackles, including three for loss and a sack. “Kaghen brings toughness and grit to the defensive line,” Abilene Christian coach Keith Patterson said. “I like where we are up front. When we get those guys on the the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/things-watch-return-man-andrew-020200258.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-09-21 02:02:00
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