The #4 Idaho Vandals hosted their home opener against the #17 UAlbany Great Danes, and won in convincing fashion 41-13 to start their FCS schedule.
Idaho had an incredible show on the turf when it came to the offense, posting 420 yards of offense, with a monster 247 yards on the ground.
The running back tandem of redshirt juniors Nate Thomas and Elisha Cummings combined for 146 yards on the ground, with Thomas posting 75, and Cummings with 71.
Redshirt freshmen Jack Wagner and redshirt sophomore Jordan Dwyer had a great connection, with Wagner finding Dwyer in the endzone for both of his passing touchdowns.
“Going into it we know he’s going to be one of our best receivers,” Wagner said about Dwyer. “I know just giving him a chance downfield that he can make those plays. It is just one of those trust things.”
The defense was dominant, stuffing the Great Dane rushing attack to only 60 yards, and caused havoc in the backfield posting 4 sacks.
Idaho jumped out to a quick 13-3 lead, and never looked back. In the second quarter, Idaho forced all five of UAlbany’s drives to stall out into punting the football away, in which sophomore Andrew Marshall was able to contribute big on special teams for the Vandals, totaling 82 return yards on 3 punt returns, including an electrifying 47 yard punt return for a touchdown to put the Vandals up 27-3.
Idaho then scored their final offensive touchdown off a 5-play drive of only runs, capped off by 3 runs for 50 yards for Nate Thomas to take a 34-3 lead.
That is when the next play, UAlbany’s Myles Burkett’s pass was intercepted for a pick-six by senior defensive back Tommy McCormick.
“It feels really good, it has been a long time since I got an interception, it’s been almost two years,” McCormick said. “To finally get back out there and get one, and for my first time taking it to the endzone in my college career was really fun. It also helps a lot when the defensive line is getting to the quarterback causing pressure, so I am appreciative of them.”
UAlbany was able to put 10 more points on the board, however the lead was too vast for the Great Danes to overcome the Vandals, and Idaho walked out of their home opener with a 41-13 win.
Idaho moves to 2-1 on the year, and take to Abilene, Texas to face the #25 Abilene Christian Wildcats, who sit at 2-1, with their only loss being in a nail-biting 52-51 loss to Texas Tech. The Vandals look to win their final non-conference game of the year on Sep. 21, at 5 p.m.
You can reach Bryce Norwood at [email protected]