Sep. 18—If desperation is not at hand, it is looming on the horizon.

Idaho and Abilene Christian are a pair of hard-luck 0-3 teams that, with a few breaks, could each be 2-1. Both are anxious to post their first win and get their seasons turned around.

The Wildcats dropped their opening game to Lamar, 21-14; fell to FBS power Texas Tech, 33-10; and lost focus against Stephen F. Austin, 26-7.

Idaho, after falling behind early then mounting a rally allowed Big Sky Conference opponent Cal Poly to wiggle off the hook with a touchdown with nine seconds to play, 38-34. After getting blown out by FBS Utah, 66-14, the Vandals also dropped a close game to Lamar, 23-17.

The Wildcats made the F CS playoffs last year and seek to return. The Vandals, after three straight trips to the playoffs before falling to 4-8 last year, also have high hopes of becoming a playoff team again. After Saturday, however, one of those teams is going to see their playoff dreams radically diminished.

Here are three things to watch in their Kibbie Dome clash.

1. Idaho's tight ends

Following one 11-yard reception by Noah West Baranco against the Mustangs and a 44-yard catch against the Utes, the Vandals went to West-Baranco again three times for 21 yards against the Cardinals. He is carving out a role as a receiver. However, will the Vandals also get their tight ends involved in the running game? Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. remains adamant his team's offensive strategy is based on establishing a running game and working the passing attack off it.

But so far, through three games, quarterback Joshua Wood is the Vandals' leading rusher with 153 yards and three touchdowns, frequently gaining ground after being flushed from the pocket. Behind him are Ferrari Miller, 67 yards and a touchdown, Damonte Bias, 64 yards, Hayden Kincheloe, 41 yards and a touchdown and Kenny Golston, 25 yards. Ford attributes Idaho's lack of production from the backfield at least in part to the running backs being unable to establish a rhythm. Would playing a second tight end or a fullback stiffen the blocking enough to allow Miller, Bias, Kincheloe or Golston to get on a roll?

2. Is Wood to Ryan Jezioro becoming a thing?

The Vandals' junior wide receiver has 11 catches for 149 yards for the season, highlighted by a seven-catch, 48-yard day against Lamar in Idaho's most recent outing. Senior Tony Harste leads the Vandals with 13 catches for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But following his nine-catch, 180-yard , two-touchdown day in the opener against Cal Poly, Harste drew a lot more defensive attention in Idaho's succeeding two games. Jezioro has taken advantage of that.

3. Abilene Christian's offensive line has got some big boys

The Wildcats are led by senior tackle Luke Roaten, 6-6, 300 lbs, a second-team Stats Perform preseason all-American who formerly played at Washington State. Roaten's twin brother Landon, a 6-5, 300-pound guard, also a senior and a former Coug, and junior center Colter Lynch 6-3, 300, each earned United Athletic Conference honors last season. They lead the way for Boston College transfer Alex Broome, who is averaging 63.5 rushing yards per game. He also had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Texas Tech.

Although improving, having held Lamar to three points in the second half, Idaho's defense has not consistently pressured quarterbacks, and it has had difficulty keeping containment around the ends. However, the game against the Cardinals was a breakout for freshman safety Luka Moore. He led the Vandals with nine tackles.

Source: Yahoo Sports