In a defensive game, it was some early offensive gambles that paid off for Idaho as the Vandals defeated Wyoming 17-13. It was the second straight year Idaho defeated a team from the Mountain West after posting a convincing 33-6 win against Nevada in 2023.
Wyoming began with a field goal followed by great starting field position at midfield on the second drive. That wouldn’t last long as the game’s lone turnover was a fumble recovered by Idaho’s Isiah King. The Vandals drove down the field but faced a fourth and one from the 3-yard line. Head coach Jason Eck didn’t hesitate and Elisha Cummings (52 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries) ran in for the touchdown to give Idaho an early 7-3 lead.
The Cowboys responded immediately with a 9-play touchdown drive but it would ultimately be their final lead of the game. Idaho came back with its own touchdown drive, once again capped off with a fourth down conversion. Jack Wagner found Jake Cox for the 2-yard score and Idaho took a 14-10 lead it would not relinquish. Wyoming missed a field goal on its ensuing drive while Idaho made its own field goal on its penultimate drive of the first half. The Vandals stopped Wyoming on fourth down with under a minute to play to keep the lead at 17-10 entering halftime.
The second half was far more defensive with each team punting twice to start. Idaho went for it again on fourth down at midfield but the fake punt did not work. That gave Wyoming great field position again, which turned into a field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13. The Vandals went for it again on fourth down early in the fourth quarter but once again could not convert. Neither team made much progress after the stop-on-downs with Wyoming totaling negative one yard in the final quarter while Idaho had 45 yards.
While it was a big win for Idaho, it may have been a pyrrhic victory. Jack Wagner went 12 of 21 for 101 yards and a touchdown pass but was knocked out late with an injury. Wagner is already replacing Jack Layne, who is out for the 2024 season following his collarbone injury suffered in the opening week loss to Oregon. Jaxton Eck led the Vandals with 9 total tackles (6 solo), Jordan Dwyer had 6 catches for 66 yards, and Nate Thomas rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries.
The Vandals sit at 1-1 with a huge home opener on Saturday, September 14. Idaho will host Albany in a rematch of last year’s FCS Quarterfinal won by Albany 30-22.
Photo Credit to University of Idaho Athletics
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