Cougs, Vandals Back To Back UI Opens Conference Play North Texas At Idaho

Four touchdowns in four games, one scored by the defense. An average of 66.2 yards passing per game.

That’s North Texas’ offense.

Yielding 24 points per game, lowest in the Big West. Allowing 62.2 yards rushing per game, fourth in the nation.

That’s Idaho’s defense.

When the two Big West teams open conference play tonight at Martin Stadium, it would seem to be a case of the resistible force vs. the immovable object.

“We’ve been very inconsistent offensively,” North Texas coach Darrell Dickey said. “We run the ball well at times. Our passing game has been a little sporadic. Even though we’re not a wide-open attack, we do know we need to throw the ball better.”

To that end, Dickey has been inserting backup Richard Bridges to spell starter Jason Attaway. Bridges played most of the last two games and is better at directing the option, a scheme UNT figures to use often tonight. Attaway will start, but Bridges figures to be called on early if the Eagles remain sluggish.

“A lot of people are quick to maybe get rid of a guy,” Dickey said. “I probably have too much patience or a lot of it, but the reason I do it is because Jason has done some good things for us in the past and he’s done some good things this year. We’ll continue to play both until somebody assumes command.”

Idaho thumped UNT 41-23 last year as three Eagles quarterbacks went 10 of 33 for 134 yards. The Vandals specialize in stopping the run, which sets up an interesting matchup against Ja’Quay Wilburn, who averages 98 yards per game.

Most of the stats seem to favor Idaho, but the Vandals are saying all the right things.

“In this league, you can’t overlook anybody,” linebacker Matt Jasik said. “Everybody overlooked us last year and look what happened.”

It doesn’t take a doctorate in football to figure that the Vandals will try to force Attaway or Bridges to make plays.

“So far, we’ve done a nice job against the run and really a good job against the pass,” Idaho coach Chris Tormey said. “We haven’t played a team like North Texas. We’re going to (use) an eight-man front and outnumber you and force you to throw.”

Attaway’s accuracy has been 44.4 percent; Bridges’ 36.7. They’ve combined for just two TD passes. Bridges, who had 41 yards rushing against Baylor, is more of a running threat than Attaway.

UNT’s stagnant offense is particularly troublesome to Dickey, a former quarterback, who was the offensive coordinator at UTEP and SMU before taking over the Eagles.

“I’d like at some point to have a balanced attack, what Idaho does,” he said. “Their scheme is different than what we do, but the results are what we’d like to get to - where people fear the run and pass.”

Notes

Tormey said quarterback Ed Dean (ankle) “is a lot better than a week ago,” but the coach won’t name his starter until today… . Tight end Mike Roberg (hamstring) is doubtful. He would be replaced by Travis Stombaugh. Backup Geoff Franks has returned from his hamstring injury… . Offensive lineman Rick DeMulling (dislocated knee-cap) is talking about practicing Tuesday, Tormey said. “I don’t know how excited (trainer) Barrie Steele is about that!”