Vandals wrap it up today at NAU
Idaho at Northern Arizona
Today, 1 p.m.
TV: PlutoTV • Radio: ESPN 700, 105.3 FM
From news services
Zach Borisch, a sometimes-defensive back, sometimes-running back and sometimes-special teams member, found out a week ago Sunday he was going to be the starting quarterback for the Idaho Vandals in last Saturday's game at Eastern Washington.
Borisch, a redshirt sophomore from Kamiakin High in Kennewick, Wash., riddled the ninth-ranked Eagles for 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns before EWU rallied late for a 38-31 victory in Cheney that ended any postseason hopes the Vandals may have had.
Borisch got the start when the top four QBs on the Idaho depth chart — three of which had seen action so far in this spring season — did not make the trip on Saturday for undisclosed reasons.
"It was just exciting, just so grateful to be given the opportunity," Borisch said. "To get the opportunity was just a blessing, and being able to get on the field again, and be a contributor, was something that I just missed a lot. I just couldn’t be more excited than I was. I was juiced up and smiling the entire game, doing what I love."
What Borisch's role is for today's season finale for Idaho (2-3, 2-3 Big Sky) at Northern Arizona (2-2, 2-2), at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, was unknown as of Tuesday's media availability.
"There’s a chance you could see all four of them (quarterbacks)," Idaho coach Paul Petrino said.
The 6-foot, 203-pound Borisch rushed 33 times for 205 yards against the Eagles, both totals the 10th most in a single game in program history. His 205 yards were the second-most ever by a quarterback at Idaho, behind Willis “Wee Willie” Smith in 1932.
Borisch passed for 4,338 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his final two seasons at Kamiakin, but had seen little action at Idaho since arriving on campus in 2018.
He started out as a defensive back with the Vandals, before being moved to quarterback, then was moved to running back to take some of the practice reps there so the other backs could be kept fresher.
"You knew how competitive he was," Petrino said. "You saw it in practice, you saw it on kickoff return, and kickoff cover. We just had to come up with the best package (last week) for him to be successful. He showed a lot of toughness and fire and spirit, and guys fed off of that."
Going forward, Borisch said he loves being a Vandal, and just wants to contribute to the team anyway he can — even if that first contribution was a long time coming.
"A lot of things haven’t worked out, and gone the way I envisioned it for myself at the University of Idaho," Borisch said. "And I just kept my nose down and worked, and trusted that God has a plan, and I was going to have that chance someday to be able to shine.
"It took a long time for it to happen, and it has been super frustrating many times for me, but it was so bittersweet for it to finally go my way, and to be able to have the opportunity to prove that I can be a player at this level, and do the things that I did on Saturday. God has a plan for everyone, and that was my plan on Saturday, and it was just so special to be a part of."
NAU quarterback Keondre Wudtee was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week after going 23 of 35 for 289 yards and a touchdown in last week's 28-20 victory over Southern Utah. He also rushed for 38 yards and two scores.