With four games remaining until the end of the regular season, Idaho football looks to find momentum against the Cal Poly Mustangs.
Coming out of their bye week, the Vandals aim to kick things back in gear with a rejuvenated spirit.
“We got quite a few who were banged up playing some rest,” Idaho Head Coach Paul Petrino said in a press conference on Tuesday. “I think guys are fresh having both a mental break and a physical break. We’re extremely excited to be back home again.”
No place like the Dome, again:
The Vandals continue the story line created at the start of the Big Sky return last season. Idaho knows how to play dominant football inside the Kibbie Dome.
Since last season the Vandals hold a 7-2 record at home and average 39 points per game when playing inside the Kibbie Dome.
Going against a Cal Poly team that ranks in the bottom half in the Big Sky in total offense and defense should lead to another win inside the Kibbie Dome for the Vandals.
Before a dominant 45-21 victory over Idaho State on homecoming, the Vandals track history this season against .500 teams and below has been shaky.
Even though Idaho is 3-1 against teams with even and losing records this season, the first three matchups were decided by 10 points or less, including the three-point loss to the Northern Colorado Bears at the end of September.
To put it in perspective, the Bears haven’t won another game yet this season.
Can the Vandals pull of the favorable win inside the Kibbie Dome? It depends if Idaho wants to play to its standard of football or continue its level of competition.
Cal Poly:
The Mustangs’ season hasn’t unfolded as they probably wanted.
Entering Saturday, Cal Poly holds a 2-6 record with a lone Big Sky victory over against last place Southern Utah. The Mustangs currently ride a four-game losing streak with hopes of stealing a win in the Kibbie Dome this weekend.
The Vandals shouldn’t take this team lightly though as the Mustangs use an option style running attack the Vandals haven’t seen too much this season.
Petrino said not getting beat with small gains is key to stopping the Mustangs.
“You can’t let the fullback beat you on four yard gains play after play,” Petrino said. “Otherwise, they will just melt the clock forever. So, I think the first thing you have to stop is the fullback.”
Stopping the fullback won’t be an easy task. Mustangs sophomore fullback Duy Tran-Sampson just so happens to be the Big Sky current leading rusher, averaging nearly 95 yards on the ground per game.
The Vandal defense will have to come up big once again, and stopping Tran-Sampson is the first key to picking up the Vandal’s second straight win of the season.
Quarterbacks:
It seems the bye week helped the plagued quarterback squad shake off any injuries, with senior Mason Petrino, junior Colton Richardson, and sophomore Nikhil Nayar all having an opportunity to see the field on Saturday.
“We could have one to three (quarterbacks),” Petrino said. “I think there is a good chance that they will all be available.”
When it comes to getting the start, Richardson may have the opportunity to pick up where he left off after his last stellar performance in the Kibbie Dome.
“If Colton is available, he’ll probably start out first,” Petrino said.
If Richardson isn’t ready to go, Mason Petrino may see the field again with hopes of getting back on track after battling a concussion.
Cal Poly ranks tenth in the Big Sky in total defense with its opponents averaging 36 points per game.
With that in mind, the Vandal offense should not be too worried even if there is still some uncertainty as to who will be healthy enough to start at quarterback for the Vandals.
Where/When:
Idaho plays Cal Poly 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kibbie Dome.
If you can’t make it to the game, you can stream the matchup on Pluto TV with analysis from former Vandal great Matt Linehan.
Follow Vandal Nation for live tweets and takeaways of Saturday’s action.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @chris_DEREMER