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Nov. 19—MOSCOW, Idaho — Idaho State gave up 478 rushing yards and 704 yards of total offense in Saturday’s 77-42 loss to Eastern Washington. On Monday, the Bengals announced they were moving on from defensive coordinator Josh Runda.
As the Idaho Vandals head to Pocatello on Saturday with a new rivalry trophy and designs on a first-round bye in the upcoming FCS playoffs, they will need to confront whatever new look on defense ISU (5-6, 3-4 Big Sky Conference) throws at them — within reason — head coach Jason Eck said.
In his regularly scheduled Monday news conference, Eck pointed out the obvious. Things were not going well for the Bengals “to make a decision with one game left. We expect something different.”
But while the Bengals have enough good defensive linemen to possibly switch from a three-to a four-front look before they face the Vandals, don’t expect huge changes.
“They are not going to install a different front and 10 coverages,” Eck said. “The advantage is we know about it.”
Idaho (8-3, 5-2), on a four-game winning streak, has won two straight in Pocatello. The Vandals are looking to solidify their eighth-place national ranking and ensure they go into the playoffs with momentum. Without having consulted ISU before they had assistant athletic director Jerek Wolcott construct it last summer, the Vandals also plan to introduce a new award — the Potato State Trophy — to their series with the Bengals. It is a nearly 20-pound block of Douglas fir sculpted into the shape of a potato atop a wood base.
“It is going to be sitting right next to me on the plane (to Pocatello),” Eck said.
Considering ISU had no say in the new trophy, Eck said it “might just be left on the field if we don’t win.”
The Vandals will surely be favored. Starting quarterback Jack Layne has recovered from collarbone and wrist injuries…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/idaho-looks-solidify-playoff-position-030300937.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-11-20 03:03:00
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