2018 RECORD 10-4, 7-1 Mid-American
Conference
COACH Lance Leipold (23-27 in four
seasons at Bu>
WEEK 2 BUFFALO
7 : 3 0 P . M . | S E P T . 7 | B E A V E R S T A D I U M | U N I V E R S I T Y P A R K , P A .
TOP RETURNEES
PASSING
Kyle Vantrease 4 of 9 | 20 yds. | 0 TD | 0 int.
RUSHING
Jaret Patterson 183 att. | 1,013 yds. | 14 TD
RECEIVING
Kevin Marks 13 rec. | 60 yds. | 0 TD
TACKLING
James Patterson 40 solo | 37 asst. | 77 total
SACKS
Taylor Riggins 5 sacks | 18 yds.
SCHEDULE The Vandals dropped down
to
the Football Championship Subdivi-
sion
in 2018, rejoining the Big Sky a=er
22 seasons in Division I-A. It was not a
seamless transition, but at least the path
to improvement is clear: If Idaho is going
to compete for championships, it will
have to play much better on the road.
The Vandals went 0-6 away from home
last year.
GAME
OF THE YEAR
Idaho will face in-
trastate rival Idaho State on homecom-
ing
weekend. It's been dubbed the "Bat-
tle
of the Domes," as both teams have
indoor stadiums. Idaho's Kibbie Dome
holds 16,000 for football and was the
second-smallest stadium in the FBS
when the Vandals were playing at that
level.
OUTLOOK Idaho played two FBS oppo-
nents last year – Fresno State and
Florida – and lost those games by a
combined margin of 142-23. That
doesn't
bode well for the team's season-
opening
visit to Penn State. Nor does
this: In April, Elliss and tight end Dalton
Cash were suspended for the opener
a=er being charged in connection with a
petty the= incident at a local Walmart.
That's the last thing the Vandals needed
in advance of a cross-country trip to
face the most formidable opponent on
their schedule. –M.H.
VANTREASE
