Vandals play for first time in three weeks

Southern Utah at Idaho

Today, noon

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After a COVID-induced bye week followed by a scheduled bye week, the Idaho Vandals wrap up their spring home football schedule today vs. Southern Utah at noon at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

Idaho (1-1, 1-1 Big Sky) hasn't played since March 6, when the Vandals lost 27-17 to UC Davis at the Dome. Idaho beat Eastern Washington 28-21 in its season opener at home one week earlier.

Idaho's game at Northern Arizona on March 13 was postponed to April 17.

"It'll be great to play another game," Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. "That's the way our guys have got to look at it; that's the way we've got to look at it. Every chance you get to play a game this year is a great opportunity, and we can't take that for granted."

Without being specific, Petrino said "we'll still be short some guys. We'll have a lot more guys back than we did in the last game, but we'll still have some people missing.

"We won't be missing nine starters, like we were against UC Davis. We'll be missing more in the 3-4 range.

After today's game, Idaho's three remaining regular season games are on the road — April 3 at Idaho State, April 10 at EWU and the following week at NAU.

Southern Utah (1-2, 1-2) won 34-24 at Cal Poly two weeks ago. The Thunderbirds lost in week one on an NAU touchdown on the final play of the game, giving the Lumberjacks the one-point win. The following week, Idaho State scored in the final minute to win by two.

"They real easily could be 3-0," Petrino said of Southern Utah.

Quarterback Justin Miller is completing 72% of his passes, with 10 touchdowns and just one interception.

"He does a good job taking what the defense gives him," Petrino said. "He gets rid of the ball quick.

"Overall, when you see them, they're big. They're big in the offensive line, big on the defensive line."

Idaho's punting unit, led by senior punter Cade Coffey from Lakeland High, currently leads the country in net punting, averaging 45.0 yards per punt. The kickoff return unit, which led the FCS in 2019, is currently fourth in the nation while averaging 30 yards per return.