For the second time this season, the Vandals lost by a last-minute field goal on the road against an FBS opponent. Idaho led 14-0 in the first half, but a few missed opportunities on top of an offensive surge for San Jose State resulted in a 31-28 Spartan victory.
For the second consecutive week, Idaho dominated the time of possession. In the postgame press conference after the Utah Tech game, head coach Thomas Ford Jr. explained that time of possession is a crucial factor because it allows you to tire out the opposing defense.
Between third and fourth down, Idaho converted on 14 out of their 18 late down plays. They were also successful in the red zone and had seven more first downs than the Spartans. Despite all this, the Spartans pulled off their first victory of the season the only way they knew how: executing on offense.
Starting with their drive that began with over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Spartans scored on their final five possessions of the game. This same momentum-sparking drive began at the 13-yard line and it was over after one play, courtesy of an 87-yard run from junior running back Jabari Bates.
Similar to St. Thomas, San Jose State exposed Idaho’s weaknesses in the running game, surpassing 200 yards on the ground, led by 131 from Bates. Though they did an efficient job limiting Walker Eget’s arm, redshirt sophomore wideout Danny Scudero hauled in six catches for 130 yards. Scudero has been targeted a lot this season, replacing 2024 NCAA triple crown winner Nick Nash in the Spartans’ offense.
Coming into the game, Ford named redshirt freshman Owen Forsman as the team’s starting kicker moving forward. Forsman made both PATs on the Vandals’ pair of first-quarter touchdowns after making all three of his kicks, including a 49-yarder, against Utah Tech.
Despite this, when Idaho attempted its only field goal of the game, redshirt junior Cameron Pope trotted onto the field and missed a 34-yard attempt. Forsman came back into the game and made both PATs on Idaho’s second-half touchdowns.
Though Joshua Wood’s 41 rushing yards represent his lowest mark on the ground this season, he completed 18 passes for 232 yards and finished with three total touchdowns. Ryan Jezioro and Noah West-Baranco each hauled in a touchdown pass.
Redshirt sophomore Art Williams was efficient on the ground again, rushing for 65 yards and a score. Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar caught five passes for a career-high 84 yards. True freshman Daveon Superales caught his first collegiate pass, finishing with 56 receiving yards on three catches.
Idaho punted the ball to San Jose State with 3:23 remaining. They marched down the field and Denis Lynch made his first field goal of the season, drilling a 48-yarder with just eight seconds left.
Though it was a game that Idaho certainly could have won, this was the fourth time in the past two seasons that the Vandals have battled an FBS team until the final whistle. San Jose State was predicted to finish third in the Mountain West this season.
The Vandals begin Big Sky Conference play on the road next Saturday at 7:15 p.m. against a fellow top-10 FCS team, the Montana Grizzlies.
Liam Bradford can be reached at [email protected].