Idaho at New Mexico State
Saturday, Nov. 25 | 2:05 p.m. MT
Las Cruces, N.M. | Aggie Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN3
Radio: Vandal Radio Network / GoVandals.com
 
THE GAME: Idaho hits the road for its final two games of the 2017 season, beginning Saturday at New Mexico State. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT from Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M. The game will be available on ESPN3.
 
WATCH LIVE: The game will be available on ESPN3. Greg Mescall will handle play-by-play with Watson Brown providing analysis.
Channel Finder
ESPN3 – ESPN.com/Watch or the ESPN App
 
LISTEN: Dennis Patchin is in his third season as the radio voice of the Vandals. Patchin will call play-by-play alongside Vandal legend Ryan Phillips, who will provide color commentary. The game can be heard on the Vandal Radio Network and online at GoVandals.com. Find stations on the network HERE.
 
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE: The Aggies enter the final two weeks of the season needing to win both remaining games to reach bowl eligibility. New Mexico State boasts the top passing offense in the Sun Belt with its 354.9 passing yards per game ranking No. 4 nationally. The Aggies also boast one of the most opportunistic defenses in the country. They lead the Sun Belt and rank 37th in the country with 19 turnovers forced, including a league-leading 12 interceptions.
 
QUARTERBACK SITUATION: Sophomore Mason Petrino made his first-career start at quarterback against Coastal Carolina (Nov. 18), filling in for injured four-year starter Matt Linehan. Petrino, whose one previous start came at wide receiver, finished 18-of-26 for 177 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Linehan had appeared in 44 of Idaho's 45 games prior to last week, starting 43. He is 52 yards shy of becoming the program's all-time passing yards leader. Linehan is doubtful to play this week.
 
TO THE FINAL WHISTLE: All six of Idaho's Sun Belt games this season have been one-possession contests decided in the final minutes. The Vandals have suffered their four league losses by a combined 17 points. Idaho won its conference opener at South Alabama (Sept. 23) in double overtime. Against Louisiana (Oct. 7), a go-ahead touchdown pass was dropped with less than two minutes left in a 21-16 loss. A fumble in the red zone with 1:08 remaining cost the Vandals a chance to tie or take the lead in a 23-20 loss to Appalachian State (Oct. 14). A goal-line stand preserved Idaho's 31-23 win over ULM (Oct. 28). The Vandals scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter at Troy, but the Trojans held on for a 24-21 win (Nov. 2). Coastal Carolina (Nov. 18) stopped the Idaho on two fourth downs in the fourth quarter to make their 13-7 lead stand.
 
ONE OF A KIND: Junior linebacker Kaden Elliss is establishing himself as one of the best two-way players in the country. Elliss, primarily a linebacker, has also lined up at full back and tight end on a handful of snaps in each of the last eight games. Against Missouri (Oct. 21), Elliss became the first FBS player since 2013 to record a sack and a touchdown reception in the same game. He repeated the feat against ULM (Oct. 28). Elliss also plays on special teams and blocked an extra point against Appalachian State (Oct. 14).
 
TURNING IT ON: In the last four games Kaden Elliss has recorded 34 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on defense while making four catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
 
100 TACKLES: Only two student-athletes in Idaho football history have recorded three seasons with at least 100 tackles. Junior linebacker Tony Lashley is nine stops away from his second such season and will be back next year to try and join Sam Merriman (1979-82) and Jason Shelt (1992-96). Merriman is the only Vandal to record four seasons with 100 tackles and is the all-time leader with 519 for his career.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE CALIBER: Alfonso Onunwor is second in the Sun Belt with six receiving touchdowns during conference play. Onunwor has caught a touchdown in five of the Vandals' six league contests this season. He also ranks second in conference play with 6.8 receptions per game and 83.7 receiving yards per game.
 
DOING IT ALL: As Idaho's starting running back, primary kickoff returner and a capable receiver out of the backfield, Aaron Duckworth is averaging 145.1 all-purpose yards per game, leading the Sun Belt and ranking No. 11 in the country. He is on pace to become one of the most productive all-purpose Vandals in program history for a single season.
 
COFFEY COMING THROUGH: Freshman kicker Cade Coffey has earned Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice and is establishing himself as one of the top kickers and punters in the conference. Coffey is 10-for-14 on field goal attempts this season. He is among the Sun Belt leaders in punt average (second; 45.1 yards), field goals per game (fourth; 1.0) and field goal percentage (fifth; .714). His punt average ranks No. 8 nationally.