Football | 10/09/2018

Idaho at Montana State
Saturday, Oct. 13 | 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT
Bozeman, Mont. | Bobcat Stadium
WATCH: ROOT Sports Northwest (Live) |  AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Tape Delay)
LISTEN: Vandal Radio Network | Vandal Xtra | TuneIn App | TuneIn
LIVE STATS: GoVandals.com/FBstats
MEDIA INFORMATION: Idaho Game Notes | Idaho Media Guide
 
Idaho football is back on the road this week, traveling to Bozeman for a Saturday afternoon meeting with Montana State. The Vandals (2-3, 1-2 Big Sky) and Bobcats (3-2, 1-1 Big Sky) will face off at Bobcat Stadium for the first time since 1995. The two programs - both charter members of the Big Sky - played twice as nonconference foes after Idaho left the league. Idaho won those meetings in 2000 and 2016.
 
WATCH: The Vandal-Bobcat matchup is the ROOT Sports Game of the Week, the first of Idaho's three appearances on ROOT Sports this season. Tom Glasgow will handle play-by-play duties with Taylor Barton serving as the analyst. The game will air on tape delay at 4:30 p.m. PT on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
ROOT Sports Channel Finder: DirecTV 687 and 688, Dish Network 426, Xfinity/Comcast 32 and 627.
 
LISTEN: Dennis Patchin is in his fourth 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 MONTANA STATE: The Bobcats, coming off of a bye, will welcome Idaho to town for Homecoming in Bozeman. Montana State is out to a 3-2 start, 1-1 in Big Sky play, and receiving votes in both national polls. Troy Andersen, MSU's triple-threat quarterback, running back and linebacker, leads the offense with 517 rushing yards and seven scores, while passing for 344 yards and a touchdown.
All-Time Series: Idaho leads 25-17-1. The Vandals have won the last two meetings, but have not won in Bozeman since 1991 (8-11 all-time).
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Under Paul Petrino, Idaho is 6-5 when playing on the road immediately after another road game - including victories in the last five such instances. The Vandals won twice last year in the same situation. Their Sept. 23 win at South Alabama came after a loss at Western Michigan, and the victory in the season-finale at Georgia State (Dec. 2) followed a road loss to New Mexico State. This is the only time in the 2018 regular season Idaho will play consecutive road games.
 
MONTANA ROOTS: Idaho will be playing in the state of Montana for the first time under head coach Paul Petrino and the first time since 2003. It will be a homecoming of sorts for a number of Vandals, including Petrino, a native of Helena and NAIA National Player of the Year during his playing career at Carroll College. Inside linebackers coach Bobby Daly was an All-America linebacker himself at Montana State. Tight ends coach Troy Purcell was a prep and college teammate of Petrino's before embarking on a coaching career that included 11 years as the head coach at Bozeman High School. Offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich played and coached at Carroll. Defensive coordinator Mike Breske spent two stints on staff at Montana, where he coached current Vandal cornerbacks coach Vernon Smith. Wide receivers coach Tony Spencer was an All-American cornerback at Carroll, where his coaching career began.
 
VANDAL SPECIALTY: Idaho special teams have been a source of pride this season. The Vandals have scored three special teams touchdowns, blocked three kicks and lead the Big Sky in net punting (40.18), punt return defense (2.89) and punt return average (23.14). Idaho punter Cade Coffey's 47.1 yard punt average ranks No. 2 nationally.
 
FLIPPING THE FIELD: Idaho enters the week ranked first in the Big Sky and ninth nationally  in net punting. The Vandals are averaging 40.18 net yards per punt, including surrendering 2.89 yards per return, the best mark in the league. Redshirt sophomore punter Cade Coffey is averaging 47.1 yards per punt, the second-best average in the FCS.
 
CARRYING ON TRADITION: Isaiah Saunders has amassed 1,728 career rushing yards. Saunders is currently tied for 15th in program history for career rushing yards with current New York Giant Elijhaa Penny. He will look to become the 13th Vandal to reach the 2,000-yard milestone, joining former backfield mate Aaron Duckworth (2014-17).