Vandals Sizzle Into First-Round Playoff Game This Idaho Team Excels On Defense, Which May Bode Well Against Mcneese

This year’s Idaho football team has a distinct advantage over its predecessors coming into the Division I-AA playoffs.

UI’s style is more consistent with that of playoff teams. Past UI squads relied heavily on offense. The backbone of the 1995 team is defense, a trait common to playoff winners.

Gone are the 41-38 scores, replaced by 17-14s and 16-12s. Points become more precious in the playoffs, and special teams and field position become more prominent.

At least, that’s what Idaho’s hoping as it attempts to knock off No. 1 McNeese State (11-0) in the opening round of the playoffs tonight at 5 PST at Cowboy Stadium.

“If you can play defense, particularly in late November-early December games where there’s bad weather, you have a chance,” said UI coach Chris Tormey, whose club won’t have to deal with foul weather tonight. Balmy temperatures in the 50s are expected. “Plus our special teams have been solid.”

And UI’s offense has been efficient.

Problem is, McNeese State is very much a playoff team. As good as Idaho’s defense is (17 points per game), McNeese State’s is statistically better (8.9 points, No. 1 in the nation), making UI a sizable underdog.

After viewing the Cowboys on videotape, Tormey half-joked: “The good news is we’re in the playoffs. The bad news is we’re playing McNeese State.”

However, McNeese will be playing a sizzling Vandals team. Idaho won five of its last six and goes into the playoffs as the hottest Vandals team since the 1990 bunch won its final six regular-season contests.

Last year, Idaho lost to Boise State and Montana in the final month before falling to McNeese 38-21 in Lake Charles in the first round.

“McNeese was real good, but I don’t think we were too ready to play,” UI senior wide receiver Dwight McKinzie said. “We were in an emotional lull because we lost to Boise.”

There is no lull this year. The 15th-seeded Vandals, who clubbed BSU 33-13 last week, have rebounded from 1-3 and 3-4 records. By doing so, they’ve proven they can win on the road, taking their final two away games to end a seven-game road losing streak.

It all looks so promising, except for one thing: McNeese is as good as it gets in I-AA. Close games are foreign to the Cowboys, whose team speed gave UI fits last year.

“It goes back to our 19 seniors,” McNeese coach Bobby Keasler said of his team’s ability to stay at No. 1 throughout the regular season.

Another driving force has been the fact that McNeese has lost three straight years in the second round of the playoffs.

“We haven’t forgotten,” senior quarterback Kerry Joseph said.

Tormey hopes UI has forgotten about its track record on grass - 0-2 this season and winless in its last four, counting last year’s setback on Cowboy Stadium’s natural grass.

“We’re going to underplay that,” Tormey said.

If Idaho can stay close into the fourth quarter, Tormey likes his chances.

“We haven’t given up many points in the fourth quarter,” he said. “We’re playing our best football. We’re peaking at the end, but (UI’s effort against) Boise State wasn’t as good as we can play.

“We recognize the fact we’re playing the best team in the country and, if we don’t play well, we’ll get our doors blown off. But we feel good about ourselves right now.”

Notes

Consistent with last year, UI was ushered around by police escort upon arriving in Lake Charles, home to riverboat gambling and petroleum plants. … UI welcomes back tackle Dan Zeamer (knee) and cornerback Arnold Gunn (shoulder) to the starting lineup. Both played as reserves last week. Gunn steps in for Tommy James, Zeamer for Ryan Smith. The health of Lavoni Kidd, who ran for 85 yards last week despite a leg injury, has improved. … Officials expect most or all of the 17,400 seats to be occupied. … Idaho has advanced to the semifinals twice, but has never won the I-AA title. … Idaho’s average of 28 points per game is down by two touchdowns from last year and its lowest since 1986.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Vandals at McNeese State Kickoff: 5 p.m. PDT, at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles La. Records: Idaho was 4-3 in the Big Sky, 6-4 overall; McNeese State was 6-0 in the Southland Conference, 11-0 overall. Coaches: Idaho, Chris Tormey (6-4, 1st year); McNeese State, Bobby Keasler (51-20-2, 6th year). TV/Radio: No TV; Radio: KJRB (790 AM) in Spokane, KVNI (1080 AM) in Coeur d’Alene, KRPL (1400 AM) in Moscow and other stations on Vandal network; pregame time varies according to station.