A battle of pace for Vandals, Eagles

Tonight, EWU at Idaho, 6 p.m. • SWX/ESPN+, ESPN700/105.3 FM 

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

Last year, the Idaho Vandals had to adjust on the fly when they discovered in the pregame that Eastern Washington’s starting quarterback was not going to play due to injury. 

Instead of facing Kekoa Visperas, a good scrambler but one who does so from the pocket, the Vandals had to adjust to Jared Taylor, who gouged them with designed quarterback runs. 

Idaho was able get just enough stops to win a shootout, 44-36. 

This year — unless Eastern has something planned that Idaho doesn’t know about — the Vandals figure to be better equipped to defend the Eagles’ QB, when EWU (2-5, 1-3 Big Sky) plays at Idaho (5-3, 2-2) tonight at 6 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

“I think you’ve got to know who’s in the game,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said. “Visperas is their main guy, but when Taylor’s in the game, you have to be ready for some quarterback runs. And (Michael) Wortham (another QB who mostly returns kicks, and plays some running back), they do a little bit of everything with him.” 

Offense has never been a problem at Eastern, at least in recent years. EWU averages 33.7 points per game. This year, wide receiver Efton Chism III is the leading receiver in the conference. The past few years, it’s been the Eagles’ defense, allowing 38.1 points per game, that has let them down. 

“I think this is a game where you can throw the records out. Big rivalry game, and I certainly see a lot of talent running around that field. Chism is probably the best receiver in our conference.” 

As Idaho has emerged as an FCS playoff team in 2022 and ‘23 under Eck, Eastern has missed the postseason each of the last two seasons. 

“They’ve always been good on offense, as long as I’ve know them,” Eck said. “They played their tails off against us last year, so we have to be ready for them.” 

Two years ago, Idaho rolled to a 48-16 win over EWU at the Dome. 

Eastern coach Aaron Best said the Eagles will need to be able to run the ball and stay ahead of the sticks against when he called a “stout” Vandals defense. 

Eastern also wants a faster-paced game than Idaho — the more plays in an attempt to wear down the Vandal defense.  

“I think they’re going to try to shorten the game, which is want good teams defensively do,” said Best, in his eighth season as head coach at his alma mater. “We want to push that thing to high 70s, low 80s (plays), but to do that you have to get first downs. They want to keep it in low 60s.” 

Earlier in the week, Eck said it was possible quarterback Jack Layne could return after suffering a broken collarbone in the season opener at Oregon. 

As for Idaho’s top two running backs, he said he was “optimistic” Elisha Cummings would be back tonight, but said Nate Thomas was “doubtful.”