VIDEO: Idaho spring football game

MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho football fans had their first taste of Paul Petrino football and what they saw at the annual Silver and Gold game was a potent offense with a hungry, hard-hitting defense.

“It was good to see some big plays being made,” said Petrino after the spring finale at the Kibbie Dome. “We kept improving. We got tougher.”

VIDEO: Idaho spring football game

Petrino particularly has liked what he has seen out of this spring junior college crop – linebackers Marc Millan, Eric Tuipulotu and Juan Martinez, and running backs Jerrel Brown and Kris Olugbode. Brown had 20 carries for the Silver team and another two when he switched to the Gold for a couple series. He tallied 159 yards – out of a grand total 404 for the Silver and another 28 for the Gold.

Quarterback Chad Chalich not only threw for 332 yards (22 of 40) but he ran for another 102 in showing the progress he has made in adapting to Petrino’s offense this spring. Taylor Davis had 157 yards with the Gold team off of 12-of-23 passing.

As he has all spring, Jahrie Level found his rhythm with the quarterbacks and pulled in nine passes for 169 yards. Roman Runner had six for 91 with a total 11 players catching at least one pass.

Defensively, Millan had 12 tackles with Jayshawn Jordan accounting for 10 and Martinez in on nine.

“I thought both sides of the ball showed good things,” Petrino said. “It was fun. It was fun to get out there.”

The Vandals open the 2013 season at North Texas Aug. 31 with their home opener Sept. 14 vs. Northern Illinois.