After two tough road games in which the Idaho football team blew a 23-point lead against New Mexico State Oct. 31 and a 24-point lead against South Alabama Saturday, the Vandals (3-6 overall, 2-4 Sun Belt Conference) will play in front of their fans at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kibbie Dome when they face the Appalachian State Mountaineers (7-2, 4-1) in Sun Belt action.
Despite the two losses, Idaho coach Paul Petrino said the program is moving forward.
“I think what we’ve also seen in the last two weeks tells you how much farther we’ve came along as a program,” Petrino said.
Petrino said the points and the yards the Idaho offense has accumulated the last two weeks shows the program’s improvement.
Idaho has not played a game at the Kibbie Dome since the Vandals beat Louisiana-Monroe 27-13 Oct. 24 during Homecoming Week.
Even in Idaho’s last two road losses, the Vandal offense was tough to stop. The Vandals amassed 93 points combined in the last two games.
Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan has played an important role the last three weeks as the sophomore has thrown for 300 yards or more in each of the Vandals’ last three games.
Idaho senior running back Elijhaa Penny has carried the load in the running game. Penny has carried the ball 35 times or more for at least 135 yards in the last three games.
Junior wide receiver Callen Hightower has been Linehan’s go-to receiver the last two games as the Loganville, Georgia, native has 19 receptions for 200 yards and one touchdown during that span.
Idaho tight end/receiver Deon Watson stepped up against South Alabama as the 6-foot-4-inch junior racked up seven catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’ve definitely felt the momentum swinging my way,” Watson said. “I feel like the momentum’s with the team too. We just got to learn how to finish in that fourth quarter.”
On the defensive side, Idaho freshman linebacker Kaden Elliss and senior defensive end Quinton Bradley flew all over the field as the two had nine tackles each against South Alabama. It was Elliss’ third straight game with nine tackles. Bradley is second in the conference in tackles for loss and tied for second in sacks.
“He’s gotten a ton better, a ton more comfortable with the defense,” Idaho linebackers coach Eric Brown said of Elliss. “I think there’s still plays for him to make. There’s still more potential to be tapped with him so I’m excited for him to just continue to get better each game.”
While the Mountaineers are 7-2, the last two games have not been easy.
They lost to Sun Belt Conference leader Arkansas State 40-27 Nov. 5 and narrowly beat Troy 44-41 in triple overtime Oct. 31.
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @CabezaGarrett