Idaho football hopes to move on quickly after a demolishing blow to the start of the season.
The Vandals dropped the season opener on the road in a 79-7 rout by the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Despite the troubles against one of the most prolific teams in college football, Idaho showed signs as to what we might expect during the home opener against Central Washington.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s action at Beaver Stadium.
A relentless pursuit: Despite the scoreboard, Idaho did not go down without a fight. The Vandal defensive line showed early why they can be one of the best units in the Big Sky conference after holding their own during the first quarter.
Idaho linebackers vs. Penn State Idaho Athletics
With Penn State having multiple red-zone opportunities, Idaho made two goal line stops to force the Nittany Lions to field goals. The Vandal defense showed signs of being a great third down unit, with Penn State going 1-8 on third down conversions.
Sophomore linebacker Tre Walker started off the season on a positive note with eight total tackles in the game with five of them being solo tackles. Expect the linebacker core to continue to rise with the return of junior Christian Elliss next week.
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was forced out of the pocket many times by the Vandal defensive line, giving fans a glimpse as to how good the Idaho defense can be as they continue to grow.
Troubles with momentum: The Vandal offense had a rough outing to begin the new season. Idaho didn’t find a first down until midway through the second quarter, leaving no time to rest for the defense.
While Penn State does have one of the best defenses in the country, this is not the first time the offense has had troubles finding the endzone.
Senior Mason Petrino and junior Colton Richardson struggled at the quarterback position at times with little to no help on the ground game as well.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Jeff Cotton provided a nice spark for the offense, leading the team in receptions with six catches for 83 yards. Redshirt freshman running back Aundre Carter received the bulk of carries, providing some clarity throughout Idaho’s crowded backfield.
The offense needs to start clicking if the Vandals want a chance at being competitive this season.
Trying to stay calm: Despite possibly one of the worst losses under Idaho head coach Paul Petrino, there is only one way to go— upward.
An experience against one of the best teams in the nation, is only going to further the growth for this Vandal squad and give this team a boost of desperation going into the home opener at the Kibbie Dome.
The competition this season cannot get tougher than it did in week 1, and if the Vandals can survive the environment in a rowdy Beaver Stadium, expect a team hungry for a win against Central Washington Saturday.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @chris_DEREMER