IDAHO FOOTBALL: Vandals seek quick start to game, season

With just one win to show for each of their last two seasons, and a smoldering of bad publicity off the field, the Idaho Vandals will look to take advantage of being in the spotlight tonight - as the only area college football team in action.

"We're definitely as confident as we've been," said third-year Idaho coach Paul Petrino, whose Vandals play host to Ohio University tonight at 6 in the Kibbie Dome in the season opener for both teams. "Our guys believe in themselves, believe in each other, believe in the guy next to them. That's why it's a big game, so we can build on that confidence."

He now has three recruiting classes in Moscow under his belt, so more and more of the current Vandals were brought in by his staff.

"I don't want to really use the word 'my guys', but just the more that you put in your system, the more they understand how we practice, how we do things," Petrino said. "Any time you get your program how you want it is when the leaders know how practice is run. They make sure the younger players know how to do it, how to prepare ... "

It's the Vandals' first home opener since 2012. The last two times Idaho opened at home, the Vandals stumbled in losses to Bowling Green (2011) and Eastern Washington (2012), setting the stage for seasons of 2-10 and 1-11.

Idaho went 1-11 in Petrino's first season and 1-10 last year.

"I think our guys are going to fight hard the whole time," Petrino said. "We actually fell behind (Ohio) 17-0 last year and came back and made it a tight game. You always want to come out fast, and really last year we drove the ball down and got points most every game, with the exception of this game - they three-and-outed us. I think our guys are going to fight from start to finish, but no question every game you want to start out fast and get that lead. I believe our guys will fight to the end, no matter what."

Ohio beat Idaho 36-24 last season in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats, coached by former Nebraska coach Frank Solich, have been bowl eligible each of the last six seasons, playing in five bowl games over that stretch. Last year, Ohio finished 6-6 but did not receive a bowl invite.

Ohio returns its top rusher, passer, receiver, kicker, punter, punt returner, kick returner, interceptor and tackler from last season.

Solich, beginning his 11th season at Ohio, said fifth-year senior Derrius Vick would start at quarterback, but junior JD Sprague would also play. A.J. Ouellette rushed for 785 yards as a freshman last year. Sophomore middle linebacker Quentin Poling was Ohio's top tackler last season. Last year, Ouellette ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns against the Vandals. Vick and Sprague both played in last year's game, combining for 14 rushes and 19 passes. Poling had 14 tackles and collected all three of Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan's interceptions.

Petrino said Poling "probably does a good job of stripping the ball as anyone I've watched on tape. Defensively, they do a good job of causing turnovers, and offensively they want to run the ball."

Solich said he spoke with Dave Clawson, who brought Bowling Green into the Dome in 2011.

"It was an interesting conversation," Solich said. "The fact that it's going to be played on Thursday, and not on the weekend, is going to give them the chance to fill the place up. We expect it to be loud, the sight lines are going to be different than playing outdoors. But we have had the advantage this year of being able to practice in our indoor facility; we're practicing in a facility that has walls and a ceiling, so we think that will be of some help to us."

Solich said the Bobcats have also prepared for the potential of extensive crowd noise, by cranking up the music in their indoor facility.

"So I think we're prepared for that," he said. "If the crowd noise is loud, hopefully we can go to a method that will not be a problem for us in getting the ball snapped."

In talking about the Vandals, Solich mentioned junior Deon Watson, the former Coeur d'Alene High standout who has moved to tight end after playing the last two seasons at wide receiver.

"Deon Watson has shown to be an excellent player," Solich said. "He's put some weight on and I'm sure has gotten stronger."

"They're going to be a better football team, there is no question," Solich said of Idaho. "And they were a pretty good football team last year, although their record didn't show it."

Notes: Tonight's game is Idaho's Tackle Cancer game. The late Mark Vaught, the Vandals' assistant AD/football operations, who died last November from cancer at age 31, will be recognized. Idaho junior wide receiver Jacob Sannon will be recognized as the recipient of the first Mark Vaught Leadership Scholarship, which will be presented at halftime by Mark's widow Bailey. February signee Jace Malek, who was diagnosed with cancer the day before National Letter of Intent signing day, will also be on the field as honorary captain. Malek's right leg was removed over the summer. He remains on scholarship at Idaho as he continues his cancer treatment, and continues to be involved with the football program as a student assistant. "He's great to have around," Petrino said. "All the players love him. He's just a great young man that will help a lot of people be better people. ... He wants to be a coach. There's some days he sits in the quarterback meetings, some days he sits in the running back meetings, and some days he sits in with the offensive line. He's trying to learn the offensive side of the ball the most he can." ... Ohio is 2-1 vs. Idaho all-time, the Vandals' lone win coming in 1972 in Moscow -- the only other time Ohio visited Moscow