Vandals look to get physical

North Dakota figures to bring a smashmouth approach when the Fighting Hawks play the Idaho Vandals this afternoon at the Kibbie Dome.

Which is OK with Idaho coach Paul Petrino.

“I think we played that style of football when we played Montana State,” he said. “We need to play that way this week.”

Montana State was one of Idaho’s better games in a trying season for the Vandals. Idaho had a chance to win that game in snowy Bozeman, before eventually losing 24-23. Petrino was pleased with the effort in that one — something he hasn’t been able to say after some of Idaho’s other games.

On Oct. 20, North Dakota (5-3) rushed for 480 yards in a 41-15 win at Sacramento State. Junior James Johannesson — nicknamed the “Fargo Freight Train” ­ran for 213 yards, Brady Oliveira 171 and Cam McKinney 59.

“They’re physical, they run the ball really well ... they run the ball downhill,” Petrino said.

Junior quarterback Nate Ketteringham played his first two seasons at Sac State, where he started 16 games. At North Dakota, the Fighting Hawks do most of their damage on the ground (263 rushing yards per game — ranked 10th nationally — compared to 184 through the air.). But Ketteringham can throw if need be — against Montana, he passed for 254 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-14 rout in Grand Forks, N.D.

“He’s done a good job doing what they need him to do,” Petrino said of Ketteringham.

On defense, Petrino said junior defensive end Mason Bennett “is as good a defensive lineman as we’ve played this year.”

“Defensively, they kind of have a blitz of the week that they really try to get after you with,” Petrino said.

Though North Dakota left the Big Sky after last season, and is playing as an FCS independent this season, the game counts as a conference game for Idaho (3-5, 2-4 Big Sky).