For the first time in two months, the Vandals head into their next match-up following a win.
Idaho travels to Provo, Utah, to face-off in LaVelle Edwards Stadium against independent opponent Brigham Young University at 6:15 Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Idaho coach Robb Akey said the team practiced outside all week with crowd noise in preparation for the hostile environment and cold weather that await. He also announced Taylor Davis would play quarterback this weekend.
Davis said preparation and competition between himself and Brian Reader has been no different
this week.
“Both me and him still look at it as a battle,” Davis said. “Without a battle, you can’t be great. So nothing has really changed.”
Davis gave credit to the offensive line for their performance that allowed for a breakout performance of running back Kama Bailey against San Jose State.
“Our offensive line … they killed it,” Davis said. “It got a little (pressure) off my back and that made me be able to throw the ball. It felt good.”
Davis was sacked five times by the Spartans, and protecting him against the large, physical Cougar defense might prove a daunting test for the Vandal front line.
“The front three — just the three guys on the line — weigh about a 1,000 pounds,” Bailey said. “It’s going to be hard for our guys to push them, but I know they can do it. ”
Bailey said he was excited going into the game after the team’s performance in the previous week, and said he would do whatever the coaches needed for the team to be successful.
“We got three guys that’s going to be healthy back there,” Bailey said. “The coaches going to be rotating us, it’s going to be nice to have fresh legs back there.”
Bailey also said he will be prepared to catch the ball if need be, but is excited to be one of the punt-return options for Saturday’s contest.
“I’m gonna be there in punt returns,” Bailey said. “It’s gonna be on ESPN(2) you know, we’ll have more of a passion to make plays out there. It’s going to be exciting and I can’t wait.”
Linebacker-turned-running back Korey Toomer said he is also willing and ready to do whatever it takes to get a win this weekend. Toomer played against San Jose State as a short-yardage running back and provided some size and strength at the position.
“I’m becoming a short yardage back,” Toomer said. “They get me over there (running back practice) every now and then … so we just work on the plays we need to work on, as me being the running back.”
Toomer agreed with Bailey regarding the physicality and speed of the Cougars.
“They’re a good team and we’re going to contain the quarterback and we’re gonna do it to the best of our abilities,” Toomer said.
BYU is 6-3 on the season with its only losses coming from Texas, Utah and Texas Christian. Quarterback Riley Nelson, who replaced Jake Heaps in the fifth game of the season, has already racked up more than 1,000 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and a completion percentage of nearly 60 percent.
Toomer said even if the Vandals get in a hole like they did against San Jose State, they just need to stick to their game plan to overcome deficits.
“We stay positive throughout everything we do,” Toomer said. “We always start fast or sometimes we start fast, but we always finish strong regardless of what happens.”
Using the momentum gained from the most recent win will carry the team to Utah, Toomer said.
“We’re so anxious to get this next win now. It carried over. We’re gonna have a good game,” Toomer said.