With Kris Olugbode out last week with a shoulder injury, Idaho junior running back Elijhaa Penny took advantage of an increased workload last week at Georgia Southern, totaling 75 yards on 21 carries, and scoring three touchdowns - one off the school record.

"He's done a real nice job in the critical zone," Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. "I keep telling him, I'd like to see him lose a pound and a half each week. It would give him a little more explosiveness to get some long runs. But he's really improved; he's been playing hard, been doing a good job for us."

Penny, a junior college transfer, is second on the team in rushing with 199 yards, and he has seven of the Vandals' 10 rushing touchdowns.

Olugbode is expected back this week, Petrino said, when Idaho (0-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) welcomes New Mexico State (2-5, 1-2) for homecoming.

Vandal-izers: Junior safety Chris Edwards, who has two of Idaho's four interceptions, has left the team, Petrino said. He did not make the trip to Georgia Southern last week.

Senior Tom Hennessey, from Mountain Home High, played primarily in Edwards' spot last week.

Doyin Sule, another juco, will work in there, Petrino said, as sophomore Jordan Grabski is still hurt. ... Just over the halfway point of the season, Petrino said the Vandals are better on offense than they were last year, "but we need to take a big step to get some wins," he said. More sustained drives and more touchdowns instead of field goal attempts would be a start, he said. One of the players he singled out on offense was tight end Justin Podrabsky, the fifth-year senior from Lewiston High, who came to the Vandals as a quarterback. Podrabsky is third on the team with 27 receptions for 245 yards and one TD. Defensively, the Vandals had been playing fairly well this season, but "I don't think we played very well last week." ... After this Saturday's game, Idaho doesn't play again until Nov. 1 at home vs. Arkansas State.