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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Davis retains reins

Sophomore Taylor Davis has won the starting quarterback job for the Vandals. (Associated Press)

MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho football team has practiced the last two weeks with questions – at least from the outside – on who would start at quarterback for the Vandals.

But there’s no such uncertainty for Saturday’s game at BYU: coach Robb Akey said Monday that sophomore Taylor Davis will be under center against the Cougars, and perhaps for the rest of the season.

Davis, a sophomore who helped the Vandals rally for an improbable win last week at San Jose State, will get his third consecutive start over senior Brian Reader. Davis threw the go-ahead touchdown pass Saturday in the fourth quarter after UI trailed 20-0 before halftime.

The 32-29 victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Idaho (2-7, 1-4 WAC).

“I think since we won, we’ll keep him,” Akey said with a smile. “We’re like butter now – we’re on a roll. We’ve got to keep it going.”

Akey said Davis will keep the job “as long as he performs.”

Here’s the beef

For the first time this year, Akey inserted linebacker Korey Toomer as a short-yardage tailback and offensive lineman A.J. Jones at fullback. And it came at a crucial moment.

Just after the Vandals took the lead over SJSU with 3:59 remaining, Akey elected to go for two points. The first try resulted in an incomplete pass. But after a penalty, the Vandals got another chance – and that’s when Davis handed off to Toomer, who barreled into the end zone.

“We changed the personnel and put a little more beef in the backfield,” Akey said. “It was sponsored by Wendy’s.”

Robinson has impact

Akey credited senior middle linebacker Tre’Shawn Robinson, who had 15 tackles Saturday, for keeping the team upbeat through the past two months.

“He’s the Energizer Rabbit,” Akey said. “He is persistent and he is positive and he sees what we’re capable of doing.”

Akey disclosed for the first time Monday that Robinson spent a night in a Lac Cruces, N.M., hospital after a loss to New Mexico State on Oct. 15. Last year Robinson was taken to the hospital after a loss to Nevada because of dehydration and fatigue.

Notes

Wide receiver Justin Veltung could play this week, Akey said. Veltung sat out Saturday after he re-aggravated a turf toe injury that kept him out of the season opener and limited him for several weeks. … Asked about the Vandals scheduling BYU, Akey replied, “This was a matter of an agreement between BYU and the WAC conference.” Idaho is one of five WAC schools on BYU’s schedule.