Vandals look for first win on the red turf

Idaho at EWU, today, 1 p.m. TV: SWX, ESPN+. Radio: ESPN 700

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

For all the success Idaho has had in football in the last one-plus seasons under second-year coach Jason Eck, the Vandals have had little luck beating Eastern Washington in Cheney since returning to the Big Sky in 2018.

Idaho’s last win in Cheney was 48-21 in 1999 — long before the red artificial turf was installed in 2010..

Of course, the Vandals have played in Cheney only three times since then, all on the red turf — losing 38-14 in 2018, 38-31 during the spring 2021 pandemic season …

And, of course, the 71-21 disaster in fall 2021.

“The guys who were here on that team in 2021 is less than you think, probably 30-35,” Eck said earlier this week, in his weekly meeting with area media. “You want to exorcize the demons, and not let that be the last taste in your mouth of playing on Eastern’s field … those guys probably have a little extra chip on their shoulder.

“We just have to play good football and execute, like we would in any other Big Sky game.”

Idaho (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky), ranked No. 4 in FCS, travels to Cheney today to take on Eastern Washington (2-2, 1-0) at 1 p.m. at Roos Field.

It’s one of only two FCS top-25 matchups this week, and the first since Idaho’s return to FCS that both teams harbor playoff hopes.

Last year, with Idaho en route to its first FCS playoff appearance since 1995, and Eastern headed toward a 3-8 season, Idaho routed the Eagles 48-16 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow (EWU is 0-3 at the Dome since The Return).

“Those guys in that building last year, there’s an empty feeling in our souls,” seventh-year Eastern Washington coach Aaron Best said. “They did what they did on the ground, they beat us up physically, a little bit more than we anticipated, and they played a whale of a ballgame. We had something to do with that, but they had more to do with that than we did.”

This year, Eastern opened its season with losses to North Dakota State and Fresno State, then beat a couple of ranked FCS teams — Southeastern Louisiana and UC Davis, both of which beat the Vandals last year.

“They’re playing a lot better football than last year,” Eck said of Eastern. “I think they’re playing with more energy, playing harder and more sound than last year … they have certainly caught my attention, our team’s attention.”

Sophomore Kekoa Visperas, in his first season as starting quarterback, played some last year off the bench in last year’s blowout at Idaho.

Justice Jackson, one of several running backs EWU uses, has rushed for three touchdowns.

Efton Chism III, in the top 10 all-time in career receptions for the Eagles, leads a core of talented receivers. He has a team-high 30 catches this season, two for touchdowns.

And fifth-year senior cornerback Marlon Jones Jr. has pick-6s in each of the last two games for Eastern.

“I know they’ll be ready to play; they’re playing well,” Eck said of the Eags. “This has become a real big game.”

Talking about Idaho’s strengths, Best said he told his team the only advantage Eastern has is that the Eagles are playing at home.

“They’re not simplistic in what they do, but they’re not exotic in what they do, they’re just really good at what they do,” Best said of Idaho. “They’re not going to give you a ton of possessions on offense. They run the ball, they keep the time of possession in their favor, they’re leading the league in time of possession, which doesn’t say everything, but it says something.

“They have a dynamic quarterback (Gevani McCoy), they have multiple receivers … you can’t focus on one, because they’ve got three this year, and probably a fourth that can beat you on any down.

“I don’t know what weaknesses they have on their team,” Best said. “A bunch of new faces on defense, but they’re playing better than they were last year. So it’s almost scarier with new faces.”

SCOUTS HONOR(ED)

After each game, Vandal coaches designate players of the game on offense, defense, scout team, etc.

After each of the first four games, a North Idaho player has been honored — offensive lineman Alex Green (Lake City High) after the Lamar game, linebacker Zach Johnson (Lake City) after the Nevada game, receiver Tommy Hauser (Post Falls) after the Cal game, and edge rusher Trevor Miller (Post Falls) after the Sac State game.