The University of Idaho will kick off the first home football game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
Though last week’s loss against the Washington State Cougars was a tough pill to swallow for the Idaho team, they are excited to return to the dome this weekend for the home opener against the St. Thomas Tommies. In accordance with the 50-year anniversary season of the Kibbie Dome, the Vandals will be wearing new decals on their helmets for this game that say “Fightin’ Taters.”
The Idaho Vandals lost in heartbreaking fashion on the road against WSU in week one. Although the team did a lot of things well, losing the season opener against a rival team was not how many Vandal fans hoped head coach Thomas Ford Jr.’s first game at the helm of the program would unfold.
“We made too many self-inflicted mistakes on offense to win the game,” Ford said at Monday’s weekly press conference. “That was a game we really, in a lot of ways, could have won.”
Idaho has not lost a regular season game in the Kibbie Dome since October 14, 2023. For a team that has made it to the FCS postseason for three consecutive seasons, it is imperative for the Vandals to get back on track and enter the win column on Saturday against one of their least intimidating opponents of the season.
St. Thomas won their season opener 35-13 at home against Lindenwood last Thursday. They scored two touchdowns apiece in the third and fourth quarters as part of a 400-yard performance from the offense.
The offense of the Tommies will have its hands full against an Idaho defense that allowed only three rushing yards in a road game against an FBS opponent in the season opener.
“Our defense has really improved in a way that even surprised me. Any time you can hold an FBS team to three rushing yards, I think that’s really a testament to our defensive staff,” Ford said in the press conference. “We do have a very physical team. We do have a team that plays together.”
One of the most physical aspects of this defensive group for the Vandals is senior linebacker Isaiah King. After nursing an injury throughout camp, King stepped up in a huge way for the Vandals against WSU. He finished with 2.5 tackles for loss, 10 total tackles and a sack.
Coach Ford says there is a reason King is a preseason all-conference player.
“Isaiah is a special talent. We all know it here because we see it every day in practice,” Ford said in the press conference. “It’s no surprise to anyone in our building. That guy comes to work every day ready to go. He’s the total package in terms of a second level defender.”
When asked what to expect from the Tommies, Ford referred to them as a well-coached, physical group.
“Maybe not the fastest team we’ll play this season, but definitely a group that’s going to play really hard,” Ford said in press conference.
Ford loved how his team performed on special teams in the first game. Specifically, he praised LJ Harm’s punting and his ability to pin the opposition deep in their own territory.
Joshua Wood, the team’s new starting quarterback, rushed for over 100 yards in his first game as a Vandal. However, the Cougars did a good job of containing his arm and not letting him get comfortable in the pocket.
“He’s got to do a little bit better job this week of just being calm, going through his progressions and making sure his eyes start in the right place so we can get to the next place,” Ford said in the press conference.
Playing against a St. Thomas team that is not good against the pass, this game could be a good chance for Wood to find his rhythm in the Idaho offense. The Tommies run zone coverage, so Ford says he looks for the offensive line to give Wood time to go through his progressions and take shots down the field.
First and foremost, this Idaho team prides themselves on being physical. Their goal is to dominate the line of scrimmage, run the ball and control the clock. A primary way this team does that is through its running backs. A key contributor from last year’s running back room, Nate Thomas is inching closer to a return after sitting out against the Cougars.
On the other side of the ball, Idaho looks to continue their dominance against the run, especially against a ground and pound offense like St. Thomas. Ford believes his defense will turn it up a notch in the back end and hopes his front seven does a good job of being physical.
The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. Before the game, students will run onto the field in front of the home crowd in the first annual Vandal Run.
Tickets are free for students and start at $23 for adult general admission and $13 for youth. Tickets can be purchased online at https://govandals.evenue.net/list/FB.
Liam Bradford can be reached at [email protected].