The effort was there, even if the result wasn’t, for Idaho in last week’s heartbreaking 24-23 loss at Montana State.

“The way i approached it on Sunday night with the team is, ‘It’s OK to hurt, OK to lay it on the line,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said on Tuesday, in his weekly session with local media. “That locker room was full of a whole bunch of people that were hurting as bad as you could hurt on Saturday. It’s OK to hurt, let’s lay it on the line every single game. Are you happy about it? But you can be proud of the effort.”

The Vandals (2-4, 1-3 Big Sky), who have lost two straight, will try to turn effort into victory this week, playing host to defending conference champion Southern Utah (1-5, 1-2) for homecoming Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.

Petrino said Idaho’s priority for making that happen is, stop the run, and win the turnover battle.

“We’re not getting enough tournovers, and we’re turning the ball over,” he said.

Through six games, Idaho is losing the turnover battle 13-1. The Vandals have thrown nine interceptions, and have yet to record a pick.

Opponents have fumbled eight times, but the Vandals have recovered just one.

“A turnover is not going to walk into your house — you have to go get that turnover,” Idaho nose guard Rahsaan Crawford said.

QB SITUATION: Petrino said sophomore quarterback Colton Richardson was set to return to practice Tuesday. Richardson did not travel last week because he was in concussion protocol, and did not play the previous week because of a wrist injury.

Junior Mason Petrino played the whole way at QB the last two games, and last week played with an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder. Petrino and Richardson had shared reps in the first four games.

“The toughness he showed is something you really have to respect,” Idaho wide receiver David Ungerer said. “I don’t think people realized going into the game how banged up he is.”