Players look on as junior offensive lineman from Aneheim, Cal., Mike Iupati, blocks defensive tackle Michael Cosgrove from Las Vegas, Nev. during practice on the SprinTurf Wednesday afternoon. The Vandals will look for their second win of the season against Western Michigan this Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. Nick Groff/Argonaut

Idaho hopes to accomplish something Saturday against Western Michigan University that it couldn’t do last season by winning a second game.
The Vandals started the season with a disappointing loss, but came back with a win against Idaho State and proved to the fans they are capable of winning.

Now it’s time for Idaho coach Robb Akey and the Vandals to show they’ve improved from last year by beating their previous record of one win and defeating a Division I team.
The Vandals are currently fourth in the Western Athletic Conference while Western Michigan sits first in the Mid-American Conference’s West Division.

“It’s the WAC against the MAC,” Akey said. “We get an opportunity to represent not only ourselves but our conference, that adds a little fun to it, kind of like a bowl game early.”
The Broncos have an impressive defense which features No. 9, Louis Delmas,  a safety who received the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week after defeating Northern Illinois by a field goal last week.

“He can lash around, he’s physical, might remind you of another safety you know of,” Akey said, referring to Idaho’s Shiloh Keo.
After the much-needed win against Idaho State, Akey said they still have a lot to work on, such as the pass rush from the defensive line and quarterback protection, the Vandals are also focusing on the positive aspects of the game like taking the ball to the end zone with six different players.

Although Idaho’s running game looked flawless on Saturday, running back Deonte’ Jackson, who ran for 100 yards, said they still need to work on breaking tackles and hitting the holes faster.
All five running backs saw playing time against the Bengals and Jackson said the rotation is key because the substitutions “keep your legs fresh and your mind sharp.”
The Vandals are preparing for a strong offensive unit from Western Michigan who won its first conference game of the season after Tim Hiller, the Broncos’ quarterback, completed 21 of 30 passes and threw for three touchdowns.

“They’re a good team, we just have to play disciplined and we should be fine,” said Idaho’s safety Isaac Butts. “We’ve just got to be prepared to stop that big 27, he’s a pretty big cat.”
Butts is referring to the Broncos’ 6’2”, 234- pound wide receiver Jamarko Simmons who caught the ball eight times against Northern Illinois and averaged 12.8 yards per catch.
Butts is confident in the Vandal defense after causing Idaho State to turn the ball over four times, two of those were Butts interceptions —  which earned him the WAC Defensive Player of the Week.
“That’s a big honor, I really wasn’t expecting it,” Butts said. “I just got to stay humble and keep my mind right for next week and the whole season so I can get hopefully more of those.”
The kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday and Akey hopes everyone will come to the game and bring more people with them. He said the Broncos are already leery about playing in the dome.
“The more people that are in there, the more claustrophobic it feels, the hotter it is, the louder it is,” Akey said. “(The fans) can help us win, we’re all in this thing together. So come on out and join us, let’s all have a ball.”

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