Vandals try to send seniors out with victory

This year's seniors on the Idaho Vandals football team have had to learn how to deal with adversity, coach Robb Akey said.

And the 20 seniors being honored Saturday are the most the Vandals have had under Akey, in his fifth season in Moscow.

"A senior class this large shows you that there are a lot of things strengthening in the program," Akey said. "My only disappointment is their senior year, they're not going out with a better win-loss record. But we can still improve it."

Saturday is Senior Day at Idaho, when the Vandals (2-8, 1-5 Western Athletic Conference) play host to Utah State (4-5, 2-2) at 2 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.

All but two of the seniors were recruited by Akey and his staff. The only two who were here when he arrived were running back Princeton McCarty and linebacker Derek Wieting.

McCarty, who grayshirted in Moscow the year before Akey arrived, has been a steady contributor over his Vandal career. He hasn't necessarily ever been the No. 1 ballcarrier, but the 5-foot-8, 192-pounder from Bakersfield, Calif., has more than 2,000 rushing yards in his career, and has been an effective kick returner.

“Princeton has been able to make sparks happen in his career here,” Akey said. “Princeton has been capable of hitting the big run in his time here. He’s been in the mix the entire time we’ve coached him, and has been able to make some things happen.”

Akey planned to open up the quarterback competition again this week, after sophomore Taylor Davis completed 5 of 12 passes for minus-6 yards and an interception in last week’s 42-7 loss at BYU. Davis got his first start two weeks earlier vs. Hawaii, and has started the past three games.

Senior Brian Reader, who started the first seven games this season, replaced Davis late in the BYU game.

Mike Scott, Idaho’s leading receiver with 45 catches for 568 yards and a touchdown, did not make the trip to BYU last week. Akey said he should be available this week.

Akey declined to disclose the reason Scott didn’t play last week.

Akey was asked if Utah State might now be considered Idaho’s rival, because it is the closest school in the WAC to Idaho. Boise State, the Vandals’ rival, left the WAC for the Mountain West this year.

He wasn’t buying any new rival.

“Our rival game is not getting played,” Akey said.