Another chance to inch closer to a bowl

The Idaho Vandals are halfway there and, no, they’re not living on a prayer.

They have beaten the teams they were “supposed” to beat so far.

Another one of those shows up in the Kibbie Dome, when New Mexico State (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) visits Idaho (3-3, 1-1).

Idaho is trying to build off the momentum of last week’s 34-31 Sun Belt victory at Louisiana-Monroe.

“I think there’s a lot of energy in the building,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “We finished first six games 3-3. We need to make sure we get three more wins, but we’ve got to take it one week at a time, and get as many wins as we can.”

Idaho needs six wins to be bowl-eligible, but it does not guarantee a bowl bid.

Of course, last year Idaho had a win pencilled in at New Mexico State, leading 30-7 early in the third quarter before faltering and eventually losing 55-48 in overtime.

That was one of two come-from-ahead losses that cost the Vandals a possible bowl berth last year.

The Aggies are led by junior running back Larry Rose III, a third-team AP All-America who last year rushed for 1,651 yards and 14 touchdowns. But injuries have limited him to two games this season.

Senior quarterback Tyler Rogers has thrown for 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns this season, with nine interceptions.

New Mexico State lost 52-6 at Troy, a team which won 34-13 at Idaho. Last week, New Mexico State beat Louisiana-Lafayette 37-31 in double overtime last week.

“I think they’re playing good football,” Petrino said. “We’ve got to find a way to win it in the fourth quarter.”

If the Vandals play like they did last week, that’s a possibility.

“I think any time your defense can get four turnovers, and you can score a touchdown on special teams, and have as great a game as Austin (Rehkow) had, punting the ball and making four field goals, and offensively you can run for 200 yards and pass for 200 yards and not turn the ball over, then you give yourself a chance to win,” Petrino said.