Vandals become Fightin’ Taters for the week
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 3 months, 2 weeks AGO
St. Thomas at Idaho • Today, 1 p.m. • TV: SWX, ESPN+
By MARK NELKE
Sports editor
Idaho’s first home game under first-year head coach Thomas Ford Jr. comes against a team playing just its second Division I game since becoming eligible for the FCS playoffs.
The University of St. Thomas Tommies (1-0), from St. Paul, Minn., visit Moscow to play the Vandals (0-1) in the Kibbie Dome today at 1 p.m.
In its first Division I game last Thursday, St. Thomas posted a 35-13 victory over Lindenwood, a team which received votes in the preseason FCS poll.
“They’re certainly going to be a bigger, physical group,” Ford said. “Maybe not the fastest team we’ll play this season, but a team that’s going to play hard.”
The Tommies scored the game’s last 21 points to pull away from Lindenwood last week. Quarterback Andy Peters, a transfer from NAIA College of Idaho in Caldwell who played 32 games for the Yotes over the last three seasons, completed 11 of 18 passes for 172 yards and two TDs. Previously, Peters played at Timberline High in Boise.
The Tommies rushed for 284 yards last week, led by Joseph Koch, who ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. St. Thomas ran the ball 44 times.
"St. Thomas is very much ground and pound,” Ford said. “They’re trying to get it to third and short, and convert it. They’re trying to keep your offense off the field.”
In its 13-10 loss at Washington State last Saturday, Idaho held the Cougars to 3 net yards rushing, an effort Ford termed “incredible.”
Ford said he is looking for more out of the passing game from Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood, who threw for just 33 yards (50 before the final, lateral-filled play of the game which lost 17 yards) last week. Wood ran for 101 yards against the Cougs.
St. Thomas moved up to Division I from Division III in 2021, but was ineligible for the FCS playoffs during the transition until this season. The Tommies compete in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, an 11-team conference with schools from the East Coast to California.
Vandal notes: Idaho is ranked 10th this week in the Stats Perform FCS top 25, and 11th in the AFCA FCS coaches poll ... In conjunction with Ag Appreciation Week, Idaho will wear “Fightin’ Taters” decals on its helmets today. ... Matyus McLain, a redshirt sophomore defensive end from Priest River High who had four tackles and a forced fumble last week at WSU, was named the team’s defensive player of the game. He recorded a 90.8 grade from Pro Football Focus ... The Kibbie Dome’s listed capacity is now 15,250. Capacity previously was listed at 16,000, prior to construction of a new press box and upgrades to booster areas a few years back.