Idaho football makes an early statement after a close loss in the heart of War Memorial Stadium.
The Vandals (1-2) drop their second road loss of the season 16-21 to the Wyoming Cowboys (3-0).
Idaho had a chance to pull of the upset in the highest elevation stadium in all of FBS football, showing progression going into the start of conference play.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s riveting action.
Grinding it out: The Vandals actually held a lead in this game for almost two quarters. Going against the four score favorites, Vandal football did not go out without putting up a fight.
Sophomore linebacker Tre Walker once again made a statement, leading the defense on the field and finishing with a team high 13 tackles, with nine of them being solo hits.
This team looks to matchup well with hard nosed teams that run the football, no matter the matchup.
As this game progressed, the confidence of this team began to rise, providing a nice momentum boost going into another tough matchup next weekend against Eastern Washington.
Match point: It might be safe to assume that senior quarterback Mason Petrino is now the full-time starter for the Idaho offense.
Junior quarterback Colton Richardson didn’t see the field once on Saturday, sticking with the consistency that Petrino brought for the Vandals.
Senior Wide Receiver Jeff Cotton runs the ball followed by two Central Washington opponents | Saydee Brass Argonaut
Despite having a difficult time getting touchdowns once the Vandals entered the redzone, Petrino stepped up and made big plays when Idaho needed it the most
Redshirt senior Jeff Cotton continues to be the star at wide receiver for Idaho grabbing in six receptions for 91 yards and continuing to be the handcuff receiver for Petrino.
The Vandal offense is finally starting to find a rhythm, showing signs of improvement before Big Sky play begins.
Highlight of the week: The play of the game has to go to freshman tight end Hayden Hatten.
On a pivotal play Hatten stretched out for an amazing one-handed toe tapping catch to give the Vandals a big first down late in the ball game.
After a behind the scrimmage pass to wide receiver D.J. Lee from Petrino, Lee dropped a perfect 26-yard pass right where Hatten could stretch out and have an opportunity to get the catch.
This play will be remembered for years to come, being one of the biggest highlights the Vandals have had since 2016.
Finding air to breathe: Playing in the highest elevation stadium in all of college football makes it a difficult environment for any team to play in.
But despite the home field advantage, the Vandals stayed calm headed and patient to the very end.
Regardless of the loss, this game feels more like a win compared to the home opener against Central Washington.
The Idaho defense brought the intensity through each quarter, as well as good third down play on both sides of the football.
Something may finally start to be building for this team, with the roller coaster season only getting started for the Vandals.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @chris_DEREMER