This upcoming Saturday marks a special occasion for the Vandals. Not only is it the last football game at home, but it will also be the last game in the Kibbie Dome for many on Idaho’s roster.
Idaho will celebrate their senior day before their matchup against the Thunderbirds, and for 13 players, it will be their final time wearing the black and gold in front of a home crowd.
Jalen Hoover, Trase LeTexier, Tre Walker, Cameron Townsend, Kayodi Rufai, Rashaan Crawford, Christian Blackburn, Charles Akanno, Mike Beaudry, Jonah Kim, Mekhi Stevenson, Caleb Lightbourn and Nikhil Nayer will all be celebrated during senior day.
Four of those players lead the Vandals in specific statistical categories. Beaudry leads the Vandals in passing, Akanno leads the Vandals in sacks, Tre Walker leads the team in total tackles, and Caleb Lightbourn is the team’s starting punter, averaging 43.3 yards a punt. Walker, Crawford and Hoover were named either First or Second-Team all-Big Sky or received honorable mentions following the spring 2021 season.
Despite this season not turning out how the team wanted it, the matchup against Southern Utah presents a chance for the seniors, and the entire team, to close out their home schedule with a win.
Southern Utah has struggled to hold their opponents’ offense in check the entire season, holding their opponents to under 35 points in only three out of nine games. In all three of those games in which Southern Utah’s opponents scored under 35 points, the Thunderbirds have lost.
Southern Utah has not fared well, statistically, on either side of the ball. The Thunderbirds’ defense ranks fifth-to-last in the entire FCS, and their offense isn’t much better, ranking 80th in the entire FCS.
Despite the overall performance of their defense throughout the season, the Thunderbirds are capable of a good performance on defense. Southern Utah hasn’t been able to get a win against Big Sky opponents this season, but they have held Portland State, Northern Colorado and Montana to 20 points or less.
“With the exception of NAU and Eastern, they’ve done a good job defensively,” coach Paul Petrino said during a press conference.
Petrino believed this matchup will be close. Idaho previously played Southern Utah in the Spring 2021 season, winning 33-32. If that game is any indication, he could be right.
Kickoff for Idaho vs. Southern Utah will be Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ and SWX
Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected]