LEWISTON, Idaho – Praise went to the defense Friday as the University of Idaho Vandals had their second scrimmage of the spring at Lewiston High School's Bengal Field – a change of scenary that seemed to fuel the front seven.
 
"The venue is different. It's just fun," coach Paul Petrino said. "They were excited for it. It was a really good night."
 
Particularly, he said, the front seven fueled by junior linebackers Kaden Elliss and Tony Lashley.
 
"Our big-time players played really good today," Petrino said. "The front seven played really well."
 
The numbers were proof. Lashley had 20 tackles; Elliss had 14. Collectively, the defense totaled 12 tackles for loss and two sacks along with three interceptions and nine passes defensed.
 
"It was fun," Elliss said. "It's always good to see your team flying around and getting after each other. We were aggressive today; more effort. We played with fire."
 
Lashley said a fast start by the defense set the tone for the relentless evening of pressure on the offense.
 
"We started out having such a good day," he said. "We were more confident today."
 
That's not to say the offense was completely without its normal productivity. Senior quarterback Matt Linehan was just one yard shy of 500 yards with Jacob Sannon and Alfonso Onunwor each collecting 11 passes with Sannon covering 200 yards on his. Mason Petrino, quarterback/receiver, had a busy evening with 12 carries for 87 yards, seven receptions for 56 and another 79 on nine completed passes. Out of the backfield, Isaiah Saunders had 24 carries for 126 yards and Aaron Duckworth had 60.
 
The Vandals wrap up spring football with the annual Silver and Gold game next Friday at 6 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome.