Idaho football coach Robb Akey said the Vandals have looked good everywhere this fall - everywhere, that is, except for when it counts the most.

The Vandals (0-1), who lost 20-3 at home to Eastern Washington last Thursday, will try to put a disappointing performance in their season opener behind them when they travel to Bowling Green (0-1) on Saturday.

"We've been able to do it in practice. We've been able to do it in conditioning. We've been able to do it in the weight room. It's time we put it into a ballgame," Akey said.

Akey said the Vandals couldn't quite get a spark going last week, and perhaps quarterback Dominique Blackman can provide that spark this week.

Blackman, a junior who hasn't played in a game since 2009, won the starting job in fall camp, but did not play in the season opener for reasons Akey wouldn't discuss.

"What enabled Dominique to become our starting quarterback, the separation he created was, commanding the offense in a strong way," Akey said. "He had done a good job of putting people where they belong, had improved his ability to read the defense, a stronger focus and a live arm and making some plays."

Against Bowling Green, Idaho will be trying to avenge a loss to the Falcons last year in the season opener at the Kibbie Dome. As Akey pointed out, in Idaho's recent matchups with Mid-American Conference schools, the road team has won every time.

It happened in home-and-home matchups with Western Michigan and Northern Illinois, and Bowling Green won at Idaho last year. The Vandals' only win against one of those teams was over Bowling Green in the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise.