The Idaho Vandals (2-5, 2-2) pulled off another stunning victory Saturday afternoon in Missoula, outlasting the No. 7 Montana Grizzlies (5-3, 3-2) 42-35 in an offensive shootout.
Idaho reclaimed the Little Brown Stein trophy and returned it to Moscow for the first time since 2022. This also marks the first season since 1989 that the Vandals have defeated both Montana State and Montana.
Entering the game as 16.5-point underdogs, Idaho started with possession, but its opening drive quickly took a chaotic turn. On the Vandals’ first third-down play, quarterback Joshua Wood threw a deep pass that Montana’s Chris Johnson II intercepted.
However, Idaho tight end Gus Donnerberg made a critical defensive play, knocking the ball out of Johnson’s hands. The Vandals recovered the fumble through Damonte Bias.
Starting inside Montana’s 40-yard line, Idaho settled into its offense. Wood capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Zack Card on third down in the red zone, giving the Vandals an early lead.
Idaho forced a three-and-out on Montana’s first possession and capitalized on its next opportunity. After a drive that consumed more than six minutes, Wood connected with Ryan Jezioro for a 14-yard touchdown, extending Idaho’s lead to 14-0.
The Grizzlies responded early in the second quarter. Running back Eli Gillman broke through the Vandal defense for a significant gain before quarterback Keahli’i Ah Yat found Brooks Davis for a touchdown, cutting Idaho’s lead to 14-7.
Idaho answered with another lengthy drive, using more than seven minutes to move down the field. A crucial fourth-and-1 conversion from the Vandals’ own 33-yard line kept the possession alive.
Wood finished the drive himself, rushing for a 2-yard touchdown to restore Idaho’s two-score advantage.
Vandal safety Luca Moore appeared to intercept Ah Yat on Montana’s next possession, but a defensive holding penalty on Moore negated the play. Ah Yat and Davis connected for their second touchdown of the game, bringing the score to 21-14. Montana forced a late punt to keep the deficit at seven points heading into halftime.
The Grizzlies needed less than three minutes to tie the game in the second half. Ah Yat connected with Davis for a 33-yard touchdown, marking their third scoring connection of the afternoon.
Idaho responded on its first possession of the half. Daveon Superales caught passes on three consecutive plays, helping the Vandals advance 25 yards. Wood then found Jezioro for their second touchdown connection, putting Idaho back in front 28-21.
Montana quickly answered again. Ah Yat connected with Landon Ransom-Goelz for a 38-yard gain into Idaho territory before finding him again on third-and-5 for a 22-yard touchdown. The score tied the game at 28.
Another methodical drive put Idaho back in control. Facing third-and-5 in its own territory, Wood stayed composed and found Donnerberg along the sideline to pick up the necessary yardage.
Hayden Kincheloe finished the drive with a 6-yard rushing touchdown, giving Idaho a 35-28 lead.
Montana tied the game again early in the fourth quarter. Ah Yat found Ian Finch for a 28-yard gain into Idaho territory before Gillman made a touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone. The score stood at 35 with just under 12 minutes remaining.
Wood helped Idaho respond quickly with a 35-yard run up the middle. The Vandals needed only three more plays to reach the Montana 3-yard line, thanks in part to Nolan McWilliams breaking multiple tackles.
Quarterback Israel Carter entered for a modified wildcat formation and finished the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. Idaho regained the lead, 42-35, with 10 minutes remaining. The score proved to be the game-winner.
Montana put together another drive into Vandal territory, but a crucial third-down sack by Mason Krahn forced the Grizzlies to attempt a 34-yard field goal. The kick sailed wide left, keeping Idaho in front.
Penalties pushed the Vandals backward on their next possession, but Idaho still managed to run more than three minutes off the clock. Cameron Pope followed with a booming punt that pinned Davis near his own 22-yard line. A solid return, however, gave Montana possession at its own 45.
The Grizzlies took over with 2:05 remaining and two timeouts. After using both timeouts and advancing to the Idaho 19-yard line, Montana faced a fourth-and-10. Idaho’s defense delivered a critical stop as Ah Yat’s off-balance pass toward the end zone sailed high.
Wood knelt to run out the remaining seconds, securing Idaho’s second victory in its last three trips to Missoula.
Head coach Thomas Ford Jr. had the Vandals prepared for the challenge, with contributions across the roster proving essential to the victory.
Wood finished with 335 passing yards and three touchdown passes, completing the day with just eight incompletions. He also rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Kincheloe carried the ball 11 times for 44 yards and a score, while Bias recorded 11 carries for 32 yards in addition to recovering the first-quarter fumble.
Idaho’s receiving corps helped Wood distribute the ball throughout the afternoon. Tony Harste recorded five receptions for 61 yards, while McWilliams caught five passes for 60 yards, including a long reception of 34 yards.
Bias added three catches for 50 yards, and Jezioro delivered another clutch performance with four receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Superales finished with five catches for 45 yards, while Donnerberg recorded three receptions for 30 yards and forced a fumble. Card added three catches for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Khaled Rawls led Idaho with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. Krahn recorded a solo sack, while Mitchel Jaskowiak added another important sack late in the game.
Kicker Owen Forsman also contributed six extra points, accounting for six of Idaho’s 42 points.
The Vandals finished ahead of Montana in several key statistical categories, including total yards, first downs, third-down efficiency and time of possession.
Following the victory, Ford praised his team’s physicality and preparation.
“Obviously a tremendous win for our program,” Ford said. “Our players, I thought, played an extremely hard, physical ball game, which we expected it to be.”
Ford also acknowledged the strength of the Montana program and the challenge the Grizzlies presented.
“That is a phenomenal football team that we faced today. One of the best offenses in the country,” Ford said. “Coach Kennedy is doing a really good job with that group. We were very fortunate that the ball bounced our way enough that we were able to come home with a victory and bring the Little Brown Stein back to Moscow.”
Idaho will look to carry its momentum into Homecoming next weekend. The Vandals will welcome the Southern Utah Thunderbirds (3-4, 2-2) to the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on Saturday, Oct. 24.