A rematch with unfamiliar faces for Idaho, UAlbany

The final game at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome in 2023 and the first game at the same location in 2024 have the same two teams — but the casts are very different.

No. 4 Idaho (1-1) will play at home for the first time this season when it welcomes No. 17 UAlbany (1-1) back to the dome at 1 p.m. today on SWX and ESPN+.

It is a rematch from Dec. 9 when the Great Danes showed up to Moscow and ended the Vandals’ season with a 30-22 victory in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

“This team definitely has our attention. It is unique as so many guys have changed over,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said. “I think there are five guys out of their 22 starters from last year, mostly new faces.”

Eck and UAlbany coach Greg Gattuso will once again do battle, but if you have not watched either team since that December contest, you might not recognize many of the players on the field today.

“I have the utmost respect for their coach. Greg Gattuso is a great coach,” Eck said. “I think their staff really knows what they are doing. Think they had a great game plan and that was a tough thing for them last (year) to travel across the country to come out and beat us.”

Last year is in the past

The major changeover for the Vandals has been well documented, but it bears repeating. Most of the offensive production from 2023 is gone. In fact, out of the 424 yards of offense Idaho had against UAlbany last year, only 51 were from returning players.

Wide receiver Jordan Dwyer had one catch for a 36-yard touchdown, but did lose 3 yards on a carry. Tight end Jake Cox had one reception for 18 yards. The rest of the offensive production is not with Idaho this time around.

On the flip side, the UAlbany passing attack has seen a major overhaul in the offseason. Former quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, who torched the Vandals for 341 yards and three touchdowns in the quarterfinal win, is gone. Poffenbarger is now a backup quarterback at Miami behind former Coug QB Cameron Ward.

“The teams are a lot different; not the same quarterbacks from last year,” Eck said. “As you watch that tape (from last year) you are really more looking at the coaches than you are the players, relying more on the film from this year for that.”

In the quarterfinal game, Poffenbarger connected with wideout Brevin Easton nine times for 228 yards and all three of his touchdowns. Easton went undrafted in the NFL draft before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Great Dane WR was cut in August.

The one key contributor on the UAlbany offense in last year’s meeting that will be on the field today is running back Griffin Woodell. Woodell carried the ball 21 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and added seven receptions for 19 yards. In two games in 2024, the 5-foot 10 sophomore has 29 carries for 112 yards and two scores.

Same teams, new faces

Redshirt freshman Jack Wagner was listed at the starting quarterback position on the Idaho depth chart for the contest on Friday, and as long as nothing unforeseen happens, he should be under center when the Vandal offense takes the field for the first time at home.

Wagner was efficient in the 17-13 victory against Wyoming last week after replacing Jack Layne, who broke his collarbone in Week 1 against Oregon. Wagner had missed the final seven minutes of Wyoming game with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by redshirt freshman Nick Josifek, who did not attempt a pass.

Dwyer had half of the receptions for Idaho last week and should be a focal point of the Vandal passing attack once again. Wide receivers Mark Hamper and Trais Higgins should see more targets as well as Idaho will once again be without redshirt junior Michael Graves, who missed the Wyoming game with an injury.

With a banged-up backup quarterback, expect the Vandals to once again rely on redshirt juniors Nate Thomas and Elisha Cummings out of the backfield. The duo combined for 31 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown last week. Former running back Anthony Woods had 105 yards on the ground last season against the Great Danes.

The major question mark for UAlbany is on defense as the Great Danes did not return a single starter on that side of the ball from last year. In two games against Long Island and West Virginia, UAlbany has given up an average 242 rushing yards per game leading to 35 points allowed per game.

Great Danes quarterback Myles Burkett has avoided turnovers early on this season, but his numbers do not jump off the stat sheet. Burkett is 30-for-65 for 471 yards and two touchdowns in two games.

Wide receiver Seven McGee is Burkett’s main target. McGee has nine receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown through two games.

“They have good players, they know what they are doing recruiting receivers, recruiting D-linemen,” Eck said. “Even though they are new guys they are still very good. You see their receivers run by West Virginia’s corners, so that will get our DBs’ attention.”

UAlbany takes care of the football and the quarterback — two things Idaho would love to change. The Great Danes have yet to turn the football over and have only allowed three sacks. Idaho’s Keyshawn James-Newby — last week’s Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week — had three sacks alone against the Cowboys.

Vandal celebration

The 2024 University of Idaho Athletics Hall of Fame class will be honored during the game.

Among the inductions is the 1988 Vandal football team that included future NFL players John Friesz, Mark Schlereth and Marvin Washington.

The 1988 team was the first Idaho football team to reach the FCS/IAA semifinals, a round further than the 2023 Vandal team was able to make due to the loss to UAlbany.

Other inductees include soccer player Kavita Battan (Cowan), women’s golfer Leilanie Kim (Rorrer), women’s tennis player Marianna Petrei, women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, men’s basketball player Chuck White and track and field athlete Patrick Williams.

The basics

What: No. 4 Idaho (1-1) vs. No. 17 UAlbany (1-1)

When: 1 p.m., today

TV: SWX/ESPN+

Radio: KOZE-AM/FM (950/95.5), KZFN-FM (106.1), KORT-AM (1230), KLER-AM (1300)

Isbelle can be reached at 208-848-2268, risbelle@lmtribune.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyIsbelle.