After upset of No. 1, Vandals on to the next

Idaho at Weber State • Today, noon • TV: ESPN+ • Radio 1230 AM, 107.1 FM 

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

One benefit to Idaho's upset of then-No. 1 Montana State last Friday night at the Kibbie Dome: 

The Vandals got an extra day to celebrate last weekend, and ... 

"Cool to see the Vandals all over the national media for 48 hours," second-year Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr. said. 

But that emotional victory will lose some of its luster if the Vandals can't back it up this week. 

Idaho (1-4, 1-1 Big Sky) plays at Weber State (3-3, 2-1) today at noon at Stewart Stadium.

As the Vandals lost their first four games this season, Ford kept a positive tone in the media. The result was a 35-34 victory over the defending FCS champion Bobcats last Friday.  

"What you're seeing is the maturation of a team, and a program," said Ford, whose squad is coming off a 4-8 season in 2025. 

Three of the four losses this year were to FCS teams (conference foe Cal Poly, as well as Lamar and Abilene Christian, who were playoff teams last year). 

"These guys have never stopped believing throughout the season," Ford said. "We've had a very challenging schedule. The belief has always been there, but now that the result has been better, it's a lot easier for these guys to keep believing." 

True freshman Nate Dahle took over as Weber State's starting quarterback for Devin Brown in Week 2, and has passed for 1,319 yards and 14 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. Brown, who formerly played at Ohio State and Cal, suffered a dislocated right pinky finger in the season opener vs. Northern Colorado. Brown returned to action two weeks ago against Portland State. 

Noah Kjar, son of first-year coach Eric Kjar, has 38 receptions for 621 yards and eight touchdowns. Brown played one season for Kjar at Corner Canyon High in Draper, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City. 

Ammon Munyer, a redshirt junior tight end from Lakeland High, has seven catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. 

"They're a very talented team, especially on offense," Ford said of Weber. "They do a good job of spreading you out." 

Weber linebacker Porter Small is the reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week, after having three sacks in a double-overtime win at Cal Poly. 

Weber State has Big Sky wins over Northern Colorado and Cal Poly, and a nonconference win over conference foe Southern Utah, but also a home loss to traditional bottom feeder Portland State. 

"Every team in the Big Sky is pretty dang good," Ford said, "and I think we proved that anybody can beat anybody." 

Ford said the Vandals came out of the Montana State game injury free, and may even get a couple players back this week, including Tyler Skinner, one of two offensive guards who were out last week.