Two freshmen carry biggest load for the Vandals

Like most true freshmen, University of Idaho running backs Jayson Bird and Rolly Lumbala figured they might redshirt this season.

But they didn’t prepare like it.

“Things tend to work out sometimes,” said Bird, almost apologetically, after rushing for 134 yards in Saturday’s 38-25 football win over Louisiana-Lafayette.

“They came in early in summer, worked out and got in shape and that enabled them to pick it up mentally,” head coach Nick Holt said. “There was no question they were going to play because we didn’t have anything returning except (sophomore) Cliff Mason.”

Bird supplanted Mason as the starter by the third game. The Shelley, Idaho, High product and former state sprint champion is on pace for a 1,000-yard season, averaging 86.4 yards per game. He’s led Idaho in rushing in all but one game and is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

The 220-pound Bird punctuated Saturday’s win with a 51-yard touchdown run that saw him break away from a pileup at the UL-L 45.

The 241-pound Lumbala added 125 yards and two touchdowns. He’s on course for nearly 550 yards this season. Lumbala, from Calgary, Alberta, is averaging 4.6 yards per attempt.

“They move pretty well,” Louisiana-Lafayette linebacker Stanley Smith said. “They’re strong, fast, durable. We hit them; they just kept going.”

That’s one of Idaho’s goals, Holt said.

“That’s what happens when you have two good backs,” Holt said. “You pound on (the opposition) and pound on them and it eventually breaks them down.”

Consider Louisiana-Lafayette broken.

“They ran with their pads over their toes and they ran with so much strength and they had good speed,” Ragin’ Cajuns coach Rickey Bustle said. “They’re going to be a load for a lot of people. They wore on us in the fourth quarter, when we needed to be our best, and we have been in the past.”

Another promising true freshman back, Devon Sturdivant, a product of Timberline High in Boise, is redshirting while he recovers from a torn ACL. Holt said Antwaun Sherman, who returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown Saturday, will probably remain at cornerback. Sherman hoped to play running back at Idaho after playing the position in high school.

“He’d probably be a better running back than corner, but he just can’t get on the field with those other two,” Holt said.

Title implications

It seems illogical to call it a showdown when both teams sport 2-4 overall records, but the Sun Belt title chase should begin taking shape when New Mexico State (2-1 Sun Belt) visits North Texas (2-0) on Saturday.

A North Texas loss would give hope to the five Sun Belt teams that already have two losses. The Mean Green is the lone unbeaten in conference play. Three schools have one loss.

Yardage shortage

Utah State finished with just 139 total yards in a 35-6 loss to Clemson, its lowest output since gaining 134 against Cal State Fullerton in 1986. The Aggies gained 55 yards on their first possession and 88 on their last. Ten possessions in between resulted in minus-4 yards. Clemson had 11 sacks, one short of its school record.

“When you can’t throw on a three-step drop because of their pressure, you have problems,” coach Mick Dennehy told the Salt Lake Tribune.

Notes

Idaho offensive tackle Hank Therien (ankle) and defensive tackle Jeff Edwards (knee) probably won’t play against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Holt said. … Louisiana-Monroe, which came back from a 17-point deficit to beat Florida International, posted its first home win in Charlie Weatherbie‘s two years as coach. UL-M had lost six straight at home. … Arkansas State’s 13-9 win over Troy was the first time the Indians held a I-A opponent to single digits since shutting out Hawaii 20-0 in 1998.