The Idaho Vandals built on the momentum of an overtime victory at South Alabama by ...

... heading into their bye week.

That’s not their fault; lay it on the schedule-makers.

All Idaho can do is make the best of its week off, and try to keep the momentum going as it heads into its final eight games of the season, starting Saturday when Louisiana-Lafayette (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) visits the Vandals (2-2, 1-0) for homecoming at the Kibbie Dome.

“I think we’ve been able to get our timing down,” Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan said of the bye. “I feel like we’ve developed more as an offense. A lot of guys are starting to get into a groove, and feel more comfortable with what we’re trying to do.”

Being able to tie the score with 13 seconds left at South Alabama, then beating the Jaguars in overtime, gave the Vandals a boost heading into its bye week.

But not dwell on it.

“Looking back on it, knowing we can win the tough games,” Linehan said. “But at the same time, being able to refocus and adjust our sights on Lafayette.”

In the South Alabama game, and even a week earlier in a loss at Western Michigan, the Vandals started to look like last year’s team that went 8-4 in the regular season.

“I think we’re head and shoulders above where we were when we started the year,” Linehan said. “We have the confidence that if the ball’s in our hands late in the game, we’re going to go down and score. It was nothing but a confidence boost for us. Going forward, if we’re ever put in that situation again, we’ll be ready for it.”