SIU heads to Moscow, Idaho and the Kibbie Dome for a battle with #4 Idaho in the 2nd round of the FCS Playoffs.
Meet the Vandals:
Idaho has been all over the football map the last few decades jumping to FBS in 1996 and dropping back down to the FCS in 2018. After 4 seasons of under .500 football under Paul Petrino, the Vandals made a playoff appearance last year under first year head coach Jason Eck. The Vandals suffered a 45-42 first round road loss to Southeastern Louisiana.
Heading into this season, Idaho was picked 5th in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll and 2nd in the Big Sky Media Poll behind Montana State. The Vandals started the season with a 42-17 win at Lamar and a 33-6 win at FBS Nevada before losing 31-17 at FBS California. Idaho then had back to back top 25 wins over #4 Sacramento State and at #19 Eastern Washington. After a home loss to #16 and eventual Big West Champion Montana, Idaho beat #2 Montana State.
This season, Idaho is 10th in FCS in scoring (34.4 points per game) and 29th in FCS in points allowed (21.82 points allowed per game).
The Vandals are 22nd in the FCS in passing yards per game (259.4) and 29th in the FCS in rushing yards per game (169.1). On the defensive side, the Vandals are 7th in FCS in passing yards allowed per game (166.3) and 36th in FCS in rushing yards allowed per game (126.3).
The Quarterback for the Vandals is 6-2 Redshirt Sophomore Gevani McCoy. McCoy won the Jerry Rice Award last year for best FCS Freshman after throwing for 2,735 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions and added 3 rushing touchdowns. This season, McCoy has thrown for 2,420 yards, 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and rushed for 165 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. McCoy sat last week dealing with some injuries but their coach said he should be fine for the playoffs. In his absence, 6-1 Freshman Jack Layne threw for 275 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in the Vandals 63-21 win over Idaho State so the Vandals have a fully capable backup QB if it comes to that.
The leading rusher for the Vandals is 5-11 Sophomore Anthony Woods. Woods was a 3 star recruit out of Palmdale, California and has been spectacular this year rushing for 959 yards on 173 carries and adding 14 rushing touchdowns. Woods is tied for 3rd in FCS in rushing touchdowns behind Jordan Fuller of Holy Cross and Mari Adams of Davidson. In their win over Eastern Washington earlier this year, Woods rushed 24 times for 183 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns.
The leading receiver for Idaho is 6-2 Redshirt Junior Hayden Hatten. Hatten was a 3 star tight end recruit out of Scottsdale, Arizona and chose Idaho over offers from Army and Louisville among others. Hatten led the Big Sky Conference last year in yards (1,209) and touchdowns (16) and was named FCS ADA Wide Receiver of the Year. Coming into this seasn, Hatten was named a Phil Steele preseason All-American and he was named 2023 Big Sky Preseason Offensive MVP. This season, Hatten has caught 74 passes for 980 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns.
One defensive player to watch out for is 6-3 Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Lineman Keyshawn James-Newby. James-Newby is a transfer from Montana Tech and leads the Vandals in tackles for losses (7) and sacks (5).
Links:
SIU Game Notes
Idaho Game Notes
Seems we ought to be able to run against these guys? Could be big game for Ro / Strong / Lester.
We've got this, we're clearly better than Idaho.
We beat Austin Pee 42-3. who beat Utah Tech 30-17, who beat Northern Arizona 50-36, who beat Montana 28-14, who beat Idaho 23-21.
clearly! 😂We've got this, we're clearly better than Idaho.
We beat Austin Pee 42-3. who beat Utah Tech 30-17, who beat Northern Arizona 50-36, who beat Montana 28-14, who beat Idaho 23-21.
Craving a McBride Special!
It's the little things in life . . .
Thank you for writing "We've got" instead of the illiterate "We got"! 😆😉
(Inflammatory political snark)
Then again, you can use the site I found to calculate that to justify that the worst team in some random D3 computer rankings I found (Fitchburg State) is better than Georgia.
Too bad we have to fly across the country and play at 9 p.m. CT. Hope that doesn’t have much of an impact.
Looks like late time will be in our favor, game is going to be broadcast on ESPN 2.
Saluki Insider? I barely know her!
Two things:
- It appears those on the Vandals board don't get online sarcasm as they think the original post about us beating them down was serious.
- Most of them seem very confident in a multiple touchdown victory.
Now I hope we do give them a beat down (I'm not at all confident that will happen). Hopefully defense keeps playing like they are and our offense shows up again. Offense played pretty good for the most part, but we still had moments where we struggled to get much on the ground (most of the yards came in chunk plays). If Baker has to drop back and throw 40+ times, I think we will struggle (not that he isn't capable).
Does this mean no ESPN plus as well? That sucks for me. I still see it on the ESPN plus schedule.
The ESPN website lists the game as ESPN2/ESPN+
Saluki Insider? I barely know her!
Late start shouldn’t bother these guys. Levels dance club doesn’t get jumping till midnight. Start time might work in Dawgs favor.
