Offense edges defense in Idaho spring game
MOSCOW — In an offense-vs.-defense spring game in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, the Idaho Vandals offense emerged with a 27-23 victory over the defense on Friday.
Rather than having the normal split-squad scrimmage style game, first-year Idaho coach Thomas Ford and the Vandals opted to have an offense vs. defense format with a unique scoring system for the defense.
The offense scored through the conventional football scoring system, while the defense could score by getting a turnover/turnover on downs (7 points), if the offense missed a field goal (6 points), if the offense made a field goal (4 points), recording a three and out (3 points), or forcing a punt (1 point).
The four Vandal quarterbacks that saw action (Holden Bea, Nick Josifek, Rocco Koch and Jack Wagner) combined to complete 17 passes and one touchdown with no interceptions. Receivers Tony Hartse, Daeveon Superales and Ryan Jezioro led the receivers with three receptions each, with Trais Higgins hauling in the longest play of the game on a reception covering an unofficial 40 yards. Art Williams (Rocky Mountain High, Meridian) recorded the lone Vandal receiving touchdown.
The Idaho run game, highlighted by Elisha Cummings, Nate Thomas and Williams, had 28 rush attempts for an unofficial 88 yards with touchdowns from Koch and Thomas.
Idaho's special teams were perfect on the day, with kicker Cameron Pope going 1-for-1 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points.
Safety Kamari Baker recorded a game-high six tackles and tied for the team-high with one tackle for loss and one pass breakup. Edge rusher Kai Richardson stepped up to produce Idaho's lone sack of the day.
The defensive scoring came on a trio of three-and-outs, three punts, a turnover on downs, and holding the offense to a field goal.
"Our No. 1 goal of the spring game is to stay healthy and we did a good job of that," Ford said. “It was awesome to see the offense really get it going and put together some long drives. It was also awesome to see the defense get a couple of three-and-outs today. I thought overall the guys played really hard, showed a lot of physical stuff on tape today, and that's really what we're about. We're playing as hard as we can, playing physical, and playing smart. We didn't really have a ton of penalties, either. I thought it was a pretty good operation for a spring game."
Idaho opens its season Aug. 30 at Washington State.