Bye weeks make or break a team.
A week of rest can result in a regroup or a loss of momentum. For the Idaho football team (4-4, 2-2) , the bye meant time to study Louisiana-Lafayette and right the wrongs of the previous game.
The team and staff took time off to enjoy the Halloween weekend and returned to the Kibbie Dome Monday to work.
“I think it was good for everyone to get rested and healed up from injuries,” junior quarterback Matt Linehan said in an interview with the Lewiston Tribune. “It’s good to see Callen (Hightower) back with us so we can have more depth at receiver.”
The Rajin’Cajuns (3-4, 2-2) are sixth in the conference. Idaho is fifth.
Louisiana-Lafayette took a bye week after a 27-3 victory over Texas State Oct. 22.
Quarterback Anthony Jennings threw for 165 yards and completed 188 out of 22 passes. Running back Elijah McGuire ran for 112 yards on 20 carries.
Freshman defensive lineman Joe Dillon recorded four tackles for a loss and one sack.
Linebacker Otha Peters completed five tackles. He transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette after time at Arkansas and played under Petrino there.
The defense had three interceptions. Petrino said some of the interceptions during Idaho’s game against Appalachian State Oct. 22 were due to overthrowing and miscommunication.
“When you face a defense like that, you’re not going to be able to make mistakes,” Linehan said.
Linehan was sacked four times and lost a total of 29 yards on runs.
Louisiana-Lafayette’s defense combined for three sacks against Texas State.
The Rajin’ Cajun defense was stingy in the run game with only 104 yards on the ground.
Idaho’s run defense had three running backs combine for 84 yards against Appalachian State. Idaho needs two wins in the next four games to be bowl eligible at the end of the season.
Petrino said the goal is to make the postseason, partly for sentimental reasons.
“It’s so they have it for the rest of their lives,” he said. “If you go to a bowl game, you can tell your grandkids about that.
We just have to go down there, line up and play from the first play to the very last play with every last bit of effort and toughness that we’ve got.”
Idaho kicks off against Louisiana-Lafayette 2 p.m. Saturday in Lafayette.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brandonmtnhill