MOSCOW, Idaho – After yesterday's thrilling 33-32 win over Southern Utah the Vandals move to 2-1 on the season with three regular season games remaining. All three contests will be played on the road, beginning with Idaho State in the annual ICCU Battle of The Domes next week. Stay tuned for more information on that matchup as the 2021 Spring Season, presented by Famous Idaho Potatoes, rolls on.


 
A number of Vandals stepped up in yesterday's win.
 
Fa'Avae Fa'Avae – The redshirt junior stepped in for the absent Tre Walker and set a new career-best with 18 tackles. His 18 tackles were the second most in a single game by a Big Sky student-athlete this year. Walker has the most, with 19 against UC Davis in early March. Fa'Avae is currently second in the Big Sky among eligible student-athletes in tackles per game at 11.0. To be eligible, student-athletes must compete in at least 75 percent of games.
 
Had Walker played Saturday and not recorded a single tackle, he would be leading the Big Sky in tackles per game.
 
Hayden Hatten – Hatten was stellar on Saturday, finishing with career-highs of 12 catches and 155 yards. His 12 receptions are the most by a Big Sky student-athlete this year, while his 155 yards were the third most. Hatten is one of three Big Sky receivers to record multiple 100-yard games this season. Hatten currently leads the Big Sky with 8.7 receptions and 122.3 yards per game. He is also tied for fourth in the conference in all-purpose yards per game at 122.3.

Cutrell Haywood – Haywood caught the game-winner on Saturday, giving him six receptions on the day. He currently averages six receptions per game, the fourth most in the Big Sky.
 
Nick Romano – The Boise product currently leads the Big Sky Conference in all-purpose yards per game with 127.7.
 
Team Notes
 
The win was Idaho's first one-point victory since defeating Bowling Green, 43-42, at the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.
 
Idaho leads the Big Sky in a handful of categories. The Vandal kick return, which led all of FCS in 2019, leads the conference after averaging 27.1 yards per return through three games.
 
Idaho leads the Big Sky in both red zone defense and red zone offense. In 10 trips to the red zone, the Vandals have scored 10 times. Eight of those occurrences resulted in touchdowns, with the other two going for field goals. Defensively, the Vandals have allowed just six scores in 10 opponent trips to the red zone.
 
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