Vandals brace for Air Raid-ish offense from Abilene Christian

Tonight, Idaho at Abilene Christian * 5 p.m., ESPN+ 

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

Idaho’s quest to win the Big Sky Conference begins next week with the Vandals’ conference opener at UC Davis. 

But before that, Idaho's stout defense will face a stern challenge tonight, when the Vandals (2-1), ranked fourth in FCS, play at No. 19 Abilene Christian (2-1) at Anthony Field in Abilene, Texas. 

It’s the teams’ first meeting. 

The Wildcats are third in FCS in total offense, and sixth in scoring offense. Idaho is seventh in FCS in sacks, and 10th in scoring defense. 

“They present some challenges,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said. “A three-hour flight down there and it’s going to be hot, so we have to do a good job handling all those things.”

Abilene Christian’s pass-happy offense is “kind of in that Air Raid family of offenses,” Eck said. The Wildcats have thrown the ball 123 times and rushed it 95 in three games. 

One of those was a 52-51 season-opening overtime loss at Texas Tech, which lost big at Washington State the following week. The Wildcats beat West Georgia 38-24 and last week beat winless Northern Colorado 24-22 in Greeley, Colo., on a late field goal. 

Maverick McIvor, a Texas Tech transfer, has started 23 games at Abilene Christian, and surpassed 5,000 career passing yards last week. He is second in FCS in passing yards this season with 1,032. 

Running back Isaiah Johnson has scored five touchdowns in three games. 

“They throw it a bunch, and they don’t turn the ball over,” Eck said.  

Abilene Christian defensive lineman Kaghen Roach had 13 tackles, including three for losses, and one sack in the win at Northern Colorado, and was named United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. 

Nick Holt, who was an assistant coach at Idaho from 1990-97, and the Vandals’ head coach for two seasons (2004-05), is the co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Abilene Christian. He coaches the Wildcats’ defensive line. 

Eck was an assistant at Idaho from 2004-06. He said his wife, Kimberly, stays in touch with Holt’s wife, Julie, who was Idaho women’s basketball coach from 1994-98. 

“I’m thankful to him, because if he hadn’t hired me here at Idaho as an assistant I probably wouldn’t be here as the head coach,” said Eck, in his third season as the Vandals’ head coach. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity he gave me.” 

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Wagner, limited in practice last week after being injured at Wyoming in the Vandals’ second game, was expected to have a full week of practice this week, Eck said. 

Eck said he’s most impressed that Wagner, other than an interception on a desperation throw against Oregon, hasn’t turned the ball over. 

“I think we can get more efficient in the passing game, but the offense has made steady improvements,” Eck said. 

NOTES: Keyshawn James-Newby leads the FCS with six sacks this season. He had five all of last year.