The Eastern Washington Eagles (2-8, 1-6) came to Moscow looking to slow down the red-hot Idaho Vandals(5-5, 5-2) and keep the Che-Scow Cup. Joshua Wood ensured the Eagles wouldn’t be taking it back to Cheney, picking up a dominant 62-31 win on Saturday at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
Wood accounted for five touchdowns in the first half, and after the Vandals removed their starters in the second half, Israel Carter came into the game and added three scores on the ground. Idaho rolled past Eastern Washington with ease in front of the packed parents’ weekend crowd.
The Vandals’ offense began the game with its best half of the season, taking a 38-10 lead into the break. They finished the game with 650 yards of total offense, returning the Che-Scow Cup to Moscow after the Eagles’ 21-14 win in Cheney last season.
The Vandals finished with more than 300 yards both passing and rushing, an offensive performance that overwhelmed an Eastern Washington defense that entered the game allowing more than 38 points per contest.
It did not take any time for Joshua Wood to take control of the game. On Idaho’s opening drive, Wood earned his 10th rushing touchdown of the season and gave Idaho a 7-0 lead. His 10 rushing touchdowns this season make him the first Vandal to reach double digits in a season since 2023.
Eastern Washington moved the ball well on its first offensive possession, but Idaho’s defense came up with a stop and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal.
Despite the early points, the Eagles quickly fell into a hole and were unable to keep pace with the Vandals’ high-octane offense. A 33-yard touchdown pass to Nolan McWilliams on a wheel route put Idaho ahead 14-3. Idaho’s next score came on a highlight reel play, as Wood lofted a perfect pass to the back of the endzone and Lonyatta Alexander Jr. hauled in the basket catch and stayed in bounds for his first career touchdown.
Wood finished the first half with three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, as Idaho went into the break with a 35-10 lead.
The Vandals showed no signs of slowing down after halftime, even with Wood and several other starters out of the game.
Carter scored on a 2-yard run before breaking loose for touchdowns of 39 and 69 yards. His final score came on a designed quarterback draw, when he found a crease and raced through the Eagles’ defense untouched. In just seven carries, Carter piled up 164 yards and three touchdowns, turning what was already a comfortable Idaho lead into a blowout.
Wood finished the afternoon with 315 passing yards and three touchdowns, completing 20 of 29 attempts. He also ran for 107 yards and two scores. Carter and Wood became the first pair of Idaho players to each rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since 2023.
McWilliams led Idaho’s receiving corps with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Idaho’s Mika Roberson recorded his first Division I interception.
The 62 points marked the most Idaho has ever scored against Eastern Washington, breaking the previous record of 51 set in 1990. The 650 yards of offense were also the most by the Vandals since their 60-53 overtime win over Northern Arizona in 2019.
Idaho will look to carry the momentum into its final two regular-season games, beginning with a home matchup against UC Davis on Nov. 14. With the Che-Scow Cup back in Moscow and the offense producing at its best, the Vandals have given themselves an opportunity to earn an FCS playoff appearance after starting the season 0-4.