Eastern expecting an ‘angry bunch’ of Vandals

Today, Idaho at Eastern Washington, 4 p.m. • TV: SWX, ESPN+ 

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

Who’s on first? 

Wait, wrong sport. 

Who’s at quarterback? 

That’s the question fans of both teams will be wondering today, when Idaho (2-4, 0-2 Big Sky Conference) plays at Eastern Washington (2-4, 1-1) in a 4 p.m. kickoff at Roos Field. 

Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood, who missed last week’s home loss to Northern Colorado with what Vandal coach Thomas Ford Jr. described as a “lower-body injury,” will be a game-time decision today, Ford told the media earlier this week. 

If Wood doesn’t play, Ford said Jack Wagner, who started last week, would get the nod at QB, and Rocco Koch, the Vandals’ “running quarterback,” also would get some snaps. 

If Wood plays, Ford said Koch would likely also get some snaps as well, as he was effective on QB runs in last week’s game. 

Wood is a dual-threat quarterback; Wagner is more of a pocket passer. 

“We're going to have, not a game plan for each, but we will have a game plan, and minor tweaks for each,” Eastern Washington coach Aaron Best said.

Meanwhile in Cheney, starting quarterback Jared Taylor, another “running quarterback,” has missed time this year due to injury. He did not play in the Eagles’ last game two weeks ago, a victory over Portland State. 

Eastern had a bye last week. 

In his absence, Eastern’s backup “running quarterback,” Nate Bell, has emerged as the Eagles’ leading rusher with 485 yards and seven touchdowns. But he has thrown more interceptions (5) than TD passes (3). 

“He’s very dangerous in the running game, and very slippery when he steps back to pass,” Ford said of Bell. “At the end of the day, we’re going to have to tackle him. He’s a very elusive guy; not the biggest guy, but he’s very elusive. We have to tackle him, because if we don’t, he can beat you with his feet, he can extend plays and throw the ball down the field.” 

As for Taylor, “it looks like he’s going to play — but it’s only Tuesday,” Best said earlier this week.  

So Idaho may have to be ready for both of Eastern’s “running quarterbacks.” 

Two years ago, when Idaho last visited EWU, the Vandals prepared for dual-threat quarterback Kekoa Visperas, only to find out just before the game that Visperas was injured and Taylor, the “running quarterback,” was getting his first start as an Eagle. 

Idaho spent most of the game adjusting to a different style of quarterback in Taylor, getting it figured out just in time to escape Cheney with a 44-36 victory. 

In fall camp, Ford announced true freshman Sawyer Teeney had earned the backup quarterback job, though Wagner got the start last week with Wood out. 

Ford revealed earlier this week Teeney had suffered an ankle injury in practice last week and was in a boot, and will be unavailable this week as well. 

Ford is looking to shore up a Vandal defense which gave up 350 passing yards to Northern Colorado last week. He noted that 248 of those yards came on eight passes, as Idaho struggled to cover the deep ball. 

Idaho has given up 121 points in its last three games, all losses. 

“We’ve just got to get older,” Ford said of his defense. “As cautiously optimistic as I was about our defense at the beginning of the season, the reality still remains, we only have one returning starter on that side of the ball. We’re going through some of those growing pains currently.” 

While Eastern has been scuffling in recent years (3-8 in 2022, 4-7 in ‘23 and 4-8 last season), Idaho is coming off three straight FCS playoff appearances, all under Jason Eck, now in his first season as coach at New Mexico. 

At 3-4, 0-2 in conference play this year, and with games at Northern Arizona, vs. UC Davis and at suddenly potent Sacramento coming up in a three-week stretch, the margin for error at Idaho is getting slimmer. 

Idaho has won three straight vs. Eastern in what Eck, a few years ago, dubbed the “Che-Skow Cup.” 

“We’re expecting an angry bunch ... a motivated bunch,” Best said of the Vandals.