Idaho Will Start Back-Up Quarterback Saturday in Laramie

LARAMIE -- Jack Layne left the game late last Saturday in Eugene after telling his head coach his throwing arm was "bothering him a little bit."

Now we know why.

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Idaho's sophomore quarterback underwent surgery to repair a broken collarbone and will be sidelined for "a while," including this Saturday's meeting in Laramie against Wyoming, according to head coach Jason Eck.

“He’s got a great attitude… He usually eats really healthy and I told him he deserves some ice cream or something," Eck told reporters on Monday.

Layne was likely injured after being caught in the backfield by Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with less than four minutes remaining in a 24-14 loss to the No. 3 Ducks.

Layne is expected to return this season.

Redshirt freshman Jack Wagner will make his first-career start against the Cowboys. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Tualatin, Ore., product attempted just two passes (0-2) against Oregon last Saturday. His final toss was picked off by defensive back Nikko Reed. He also finished with five rushing yards on a pair of carries.

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Wagner appeared in one game last fall, completing 4-of-5 throws for 41 yards and a touchdown against rival Idaho State. He added 42 yards on the ground on just three attempts. Nick Josifek, another redshirt freshman, will serve as Wagner's backup in Laramie.

This will be the second-consecutive week the Cowboys will face a signal caller making his first collegiate start. Arizona State's Sam Leavitt Saturday connected on 14-of-22 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-7 rout inside Tempe's Mountain America Stadium. He also added 47 rushing yards in the win.

Expect a heavy dose of Elisha Cummings out of the backfield for the Vandals. The 5-foot-8, 188-pound junior running back rushed for 43 yards on eight carries against the Ducks. The Waco, Texas native also snagged two passes for 35 yards. One catch, which came on a screen pass, went for 34 of those.

"I thought he had a lot of juice when you watched him touch the ball against Oregon," Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said on Monday. "This is a big challenge. They're well rounded. They're well-coached. It's a good team."

Idaho scored both of its touchdowns at Oregon on trick plays.

Cummings took a third-quarter handoff and flipped the ball to receiver Mark Hamper, who then pitched it back to Layne. Tight end Jake Cox was all alone on the sideline and hauled in the flea-flicker before cruising into the end zone from 36 yards out.

On the second score, Cummings took the direct snap out of the shotgun and put the ball in the belly of Layne, who then faked a reverse to wideout Tony Harste before turning up field and cruising in untouched for six.

Kickoff between the Cowboys and Vandals is set for 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The game will be televised on TruTV.

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