Idaho vs. Eastern Washington
Saturday, Feb. 27 | 3 p.m. PT
MOSCOW, Idaho | ASUI Kibbie Dome
WATCH: SWX/PlutoTV
LISTEN: Vandal Radio Network | Vandal Xtra | TuneIn App | TuneIn
LIVE STATS: GoVandals.com/FBstats
MEDIA INFORMATION: Idaho Game Notes
 
MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho football finally returns to the field after 461 days away for the 2021 Spring Season, presented by Famous Idaho Potatoes. Kickoff against local rival, No. 12 Eastern Washington, is set for 3:06 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. The game will be televised live on SWX and streamed over PlutoTV.


 
ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals take the field for the first time in a long time. The defense will be familiar, with most starters and most of the depth returning. The Idaho offense will look a bit different. Grad transfer quarterback Mike Beaudry will step in as the full-time starter. Veteran Cutrell Haywood will likely be targeted often this season, alongside tight end Connor Whitney and wide receiver Hayden Hatten.
 
ABOUT EWU: The Eagles enter the 2021 Spring season ranked No. 12 in the nation, according to Stats Perform. EWU had a solid 2019 season, finishing the conference portion of the year at 6-2.
 
FRONT SEVEN: Idaho's front seven looks to be one of the more dominant groups in all of FCS football. Returning all of its starters, the Vandals have a pair of Preseason All-Big Sky linebackers in Tre Walker and Christian Elliss. Charles Akanno returns to the lineup after missing the second half of 2019 with an injury. The defensive line has also healed up during the long stretch off, with Kayode Rufai, Noah Elliss and Cameron Townsend returning.
 
SHORT SEASON: Idaho will look to capitalize on a short season in the spring of 2021. The Vandals will play their first five games indoors, with three in Moscow, and one each at Northern Arizona and Idaho State. The final game of the regular season, on April 10, will be played outdoors at Eastern Washington, but will be played on turf.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Idaho had an offensive explosion in its last game, at Northern Arizona on Nov. 23, 2019. The Vandals needed an extra period to take the win, but came out on top 60-53. Senior quarterback Mason Petrino put up big numbers, earning STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week after finishing with 563 yards of total offense, the second most ever by a Vandal (Brian Lindgren - 657 yards - MTSU 2001).
 
LAST MEETING: Idaho took down EWU in a non-conference matchup in 2019, 35-27. The Vandals jumped out to a 28-0 advantage after a 20-yard score by Mason Petrino midway through the second quarter and coasted from there. Charles Akanno had a stellar performance on the defensive side of the ball and earned STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors.