VANDAL NOTES: Making the most of an opportunity

Heading into last Saturday’s game, senior Jordan Frysinger had made a minimal splash for the Idaho Vandals football team.

But last week at Louisiana-Monroe, with top receiver Callen Hightower sidelined with an injury, Frysinger got his chance, making the first four catches of his Idaho career, for 100 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown reception in the Vandals’ 34-31 victory.

“He’s just had a hard time staying healthy,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “He’s been hurt a lot since he’s been here. He had a good week of practice, he looked fast and I told him, ‘get ready to make some plays this week.’”

Frysinger, from Corning, N.Y., began his college career began in 2011, when he redshirted at Illinois when Petrino was an assistant coach there. He did not play the next two seasons. In 2014 he landed at Idaho, where he saw action in two games, then was moved to the secondary during spring ball in 2015.

Last fall, he saw action in six games — on offense, defense and special teams.

“I think this is what it’s all about,” Petrino said, smiling like a proud father. “Seeing young men grow up, and become better people and better workers, and when they play well, it just makes you proud of them.”

Idaho (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) plays host to New Mexico State (2-3, 0-2) on Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.

Don’t stop believin’: Petrino attributed the wins in the last two weeks to everybody playing hard for four quarters, fighting to the end. He said all summer, they talked about playing clutch in the fourth quarter, including distributing handouts.

“We’ve went out and done it twice,” Petrino said. “A couple of the games where we came up short, I thought we played well for the first 28-32 plays, and then we hit a lull.”

Of course, it helps to have a defense that, Petrino said, is playing much faster than last year’s. Idaho is ranked second in the Sun Belt in interceptions with nine, and is eighth nationally. Safety Jayshawn Jordan and linebacker Kaden Elliss have three picks each, and safety Russell Siavii has two.

“I think you make your luck,” Petrino said. “They’re playing so much faster, running to the ball, putting pressure on the quarterback.”