The Idaho Vandals offense has been among the best in the FCS this season, led by senior quarterback Joshua Wood. However, in the second half against Eastern Washington, Wood’s backup, Israel Carter entered the game as the Vandals held a large lead. Carter had just 17 carries for 45 rushing yards through the first eight games of the season.
The senior came off the bench and rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries as the Vandals rolled to a 62-31 victory over the Eagles. Following Wood’s five touchdown performance in the first half, Carter provided a spark on the ground, posting over 23.4 yards per carry.
Entering the matchup with Eastern Washington, Carter had been used occasionally to come off the bench for designed quarterback runs. He had been part of Idaho’s offense, but his opportunities had been limited behind an established quarterback in Wood. When given an opportunity to show his ability to run the offense on Saturday, Carter rose to the occasion.
His first touchdown came on a two-yard run late in the third quarter, capping a 75-yard Idaho drive and extending the Vandals’ lead to 45-17.
Early in the fourth quarter, Carter broke through the line and shook off a tackler for a 39-yard touchdown. Just a few minutes later, he delivered the biggest play of his afternoon. On third down, Carter carried the ball forward on a draw and found a lane, racing 69 yards for his third touchdown.
The Eagles had no answer for the burst of speed he brought into the game. Carter finished as the team’s leading rusher, totaling 164 yards on the ground in just the second half. He and Wood became the first pair of Vandals to each rush for at least 100 yards in the same game since 2023.
After his best performance in a Vandal uniform, Carter now averages more than eight yards per carry this season.
Carter’s ability to make an impact with his legs is not new. Before arriving in Moscow, he developed as a dual-threat quarterback at Centennial High School in Corona, California. During his senior season, he finished with nearly 2500 all purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns.
His college career took him to South Florida and Norfolk State before he joined Idaho in 2026. For a player who had spent much of the season waiting for opportunities, Carter made his seven carries count against the Eagles. His performance added another dimension to an Idaho offense that finished with 650 total yards against Eastern Washington, and it gave the Vandals a glimpse of what his athleticism can provide.
Despite his role within Idaho’s offense being limited Carter has proven on several occasions that he can be a determining factor in the outcome of games and a significant contributor to Idaho’s offense.