Vandals visit BYU, try to build off win

Having finally broke through to the win column for the first time in nearly two months, the Idaho Vandals (2-7) hope to remember what that felt like when they play at BYU (6-3) tonight at 63,470-seat LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

"We've got to build off" that game, Idaho coach Robb Akey said. "I'd like to see our offense grow from where we left off on Saturday (in a 32-29 come-from-behind victory at San Jose State). That was a big ol' gorilla that we got off our back. It sprinted out of that stadium after we got it off our back."

"Idaho has had a lot of close losses," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "It was fun to see them pull one out against San Jose State with a nice finish. They have three or four games where they just didn't make enough plays. They are playing hard and physical."

BYU, which had a bye last week, is playing as an independent this year, but is chasing its own Western Athletic Conference title of sorts. The Cougars are 2-0 vs. WAC teams this year, with games next week vs. New Mexico State and Dec. 3 at Hawaii coming up.

Mendenhall said BYU has been approached by the Big East, but declined to gauge the Cougars' interest. Boise State, which just joined the Mountain West this year, is interested in jumping to the Big East, but only if a western partner can be found.

BYU junior quarterback Riley Nelson has thrown for 1,048 yards and 12 touchdowns, and rushed for 368 yards and a TD on 67 carries. He replaced sophomore Jake Heaps, who played at Skyline High in Issaquah, Wash., who started the first five games.

Idaho and BYU are meeting for the first time since 1955. Idaho leads the series 2-1, including a 49-6 win in Provo in 1955. The games in 1953 and '54 were played in Boise.