Today’s Opponent Suits Idaho Even Though Northern Iowa Has Won 38 Of 40 At Home Dome

In many ways, the Northern Iowa Panthers are the perfect football opponent for Idaho.

The Panthers have a quality team, solid defense, dandy quarterback, high national ranking - just like Montana and Northern Arizona, teams that Idaho defeated earlier this season.

If a season-long trend holds true for the Vandals, it’ll sure beat playing .500-type clubs, such as Montana State, Weber State or Idaho State, all of whom knocked off Idaho.

There is just one huge hangup to this line of reasoning: Northern Iowa has won 38 of its last 40 games at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, site of today’s 4:30 p.m. PST nonconference contest.

“Idaho is a little bit of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team,” understated Northern Iowa coach Terry Allen.

In addition to the caliber of opponent, the mercurial Vandals seem to thrive or misfire on one crucial element: Emotion. Idaho was passionate for Montana and Northern Arizona, passive for Weber State, Idaho State and Montana State.

UI coach Chris Tormey said he’s encouraged by last week’s 17-14 win over NAU, which ended a seven-game road losing streak.

“Against Montana, we had a tremendous first half offensively, but we didn’t play four quarters and we didn’t move the ball consistently,” Tormey said. “(NAU) was the first time we moved the ball for four quarters.”

Idaho’s challenge against 15th-ranked Northern Iowa is twofold: Keep from getting burned by speedy receiver Dedric Ward (26 yards per catch) and accurate passer Chris Berg, and find cracks in a defensive unit that allows only 282 yards and 15.8 points per game.

Boding favorably for Idaho is UNI’s artificial turf. The Vandals have played well on fake grass in the Kibbie Dome and at NAU.UNI’s Allen agreed. “They like to play indoors and on turf because they have penetrating, quick, good athletes. Grass is a little of a detriment for them.”What Allen neglected to mention is that the Panthers defense is based more on speed than size. End Kevin Hammond is a 220-pound speed rusher. The run stoppers are all-America candidate Brian Moretz at tackle and inside backers Brandon Williams (6-3, 240) and Dannie Spann (6-0, 235).

Idaho is out of the playoff hunt, while Northern Iowa has clinched a berth by securing at least a share of the Gateway Conference championship, its sixth straight solo or shared crown.

To have any chance at hosting a first-round playoff matchup, the Panthers probably need a win today and next week against Division II Winona State.

Notes

Officials expect a near sellout. Capacity is 16,324. … Northern Iowa cornerback Earl Powell apparently will play after missing last week with a knee injury. That is somewhat significant because Illinois State repeatedly picked on his replacement, freshman Steve St. Meyer, last week. … The 4-4 Vandals will be trying to climb above .500 for the first time this year.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Vandals at Northern Iowa