NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Sep. 16—MOSCOW, Idaho — Last summer, this might have looked like a reasonable way to wrap up the nonconference games before heading into the Big Sky Conference season.
A year ago, Abilene Christian finished 5-6.
However, when the University of Idaho travels to Texas Saturday to face the Wildcats for the first time, the fourth ranked-Vandals will be playing a Football Championship Subdivision team ranked 19th after fashioning a 2-1 record that consists of back-to-back wins after taking Football Bowl Subdivision Texas Tech to overtime before falling 52-51 in its opener.
For the Vandals, also 2-1, who have designs on a deep playoff run after reaching the FCS quarterfinals last year, and who played third-ranked FBS opponent Oregon within 10 points in their own opening game before defeating another FBS foe, Wyoming, and FCS 17 th ranked Albany University the prospect of taking on yet one more ranked team may have them wondering “does this ever get any easier?”
Idaho coach Jason Eck says of the Wildcats “this is a great challenge for us.”
On both sides of the ball.
Eck pointed to Wildcats quarterback Maverick McIvor, a graduate transfer, who has already completed 80 of 122 passes for 1,032 yards and seven touchdowns, without an interception. The Vandals, by contrast, Eck pointed out, have only thrown 70 times in three games.
“They throw it 40 times a game,” said Eck. “We have got to do a great job of getting some pressure on that guy.”
Vandals edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, who already has six sacks on the year, got one against Albany.
One of McIvor’s favorite wide receivers is senior Blayne Taylor. A big target at 6-5, 215, Taylor has made 13 receptions for 206 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s a big dude,” says Eck.
The Wildcats are also big and fast up front on both sides of the ball. On defense, they feature redshirt senior…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/great-challenge-idaho-ride-high-020200293.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-09-17 02:02:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
