Vandals trying to avoid a spooky night in Flagstaff

Tonight, Idaho at Northern Arizona, 7:30 p.m. • TV: ESPN2 

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

You figure the folks at ESPN picked this game to air on ESPN2 because at least one of the teams — if not both — would be ranked among the top 25 in FCS. 

Well, eight weeks into the season, one team is ranked — and it’s not the Idaho Vandals. 

The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-3, 2-2 Big Sky), ranked No. 19, play host to Idaho (3-5, 1-3) tonight at 7:30 on Halloween night in front of a national audience.  

“Obviously a very tough opponent on a short week,” Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. said. 

NAU’s wins in league have come at Portland State and at Idaho State. The Lumberjacks’ losses have come to Montana State and at UC Davis, both ranked teams. 

“You have to prepare for a little bit of everything,” Ford said of NAU. “They have a really good quarterback (Ty Pennington). He is talented, he can do it on the ground, he can throw it. They’ve got some really talented running backs. Their receiver, No. 11 (Kolbe Katsis), has made a bunch of plays this year.” 

Pennington has passed for 1,973 yards and 11 touchdowns, with two interceptions. He’s also run for 299 yards (third on the team) and two scores. Katsis has a team-high 38 receptions for 599 yards and five TDs. 

“Defensively they do some different things,” Ford added. “They’re very non-traditional, they walk a ton of dudes up on the line of scrimmage; there are some plays it looks like a punt block out there. They do some unique things we’re definitely going to have to scheme up. 

“Every preparation week is different, but they do some things a little outside the box that we definitely have to prepare for.” 

Idaho likely needs to win out to have a shot at an at-large berth to the 24-team FCS playoffs. 

The Vandals had lost four straight, the last two without starting quarterback Joshua Wood, before Wood returned last week and led Idaho with four touchdown passes in a 45-6 win over Portland State. 

“Schematically you can do things a little differently with a guy with a few more reps," Ford said of Wood. “And our passing game really changes when we have him. Joshua really can make all the throws. He’s very, very good in the pocket. Sometimes everyone talks about his running ability, but they forget about the subtle, small movements in the pocket — I think that’s where he really excels. And he extends the play without actually having to move from the pocket. That really changes our offense, in terms of the passing game, when he’s available” 

Running back Eli Cummings was also healthy last week, and caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score. 

“Having Eli Cummings available, he’s such a dynamic guy,” Ford said. “So having those two guys healthy is huge for our offense, and allows us to do a little bit more.”