MISSOULA, Mont. – The Idaho Vandals overcame a sold-out crowd, a physical defense, every FCS pundit's opinion and 23-years of history to topple Big Sky rival Montana 30-23 and reclaim the Little Brown Stein for the first time since 1999 Saturday afternoon at Washington Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.
 
The Vandal defense held Montana to just 220 yards of total offense and picked off Montana quarterback Lucas Johnson twice in the fourth quarter. The offense held on the to the ball for over 42 minutes of the game and tallied 292 yards through the air.
 
To complete the all-around performance, the special teams unit forced a safety on a punt, blocked a PAT and grabbed an on-side kick. Ricardo Chavez also hit field goals of 47 and 40 on the day.
 
Gevani McCoy was once again outstanding. He was 21-27 for 286 yards and a touchdown. Hayden Hatten grabbed had nine catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns and Jermaine Jackson tallied seven catches for 95 yards.
 
The Vandal offense found success through the air, but neither team could get much going on the ground. Idaho had just 52 yards rushing, but Montana managed just 34 on the day.
 
Idaho got on the board first with a 47-yard field goal with 3:19 to play in the first quarter. The Grizzlies responded with just seconds remaining in the first quarter when Johnson found Junior Bergen in the endzone for a touchdown. Bergen made a finger-tip highlight grab, but the PAT was blocked by Tommy McCormick, it wouldn't be the last big play of the game for McCormick.
 
Hogan Hatten tackled the punter in the end zone for a safety to cut the Montana lead to 6-5 with 6:15 left in the first half, but Montana extended the lead with 1:48 left before the break on a Johnson 1-yard run.
 
Idaho didn't settle for the half. The Vandals drove the field and McCoy found Hayden Hatten for the 24-yard TD with 28 seconds left in the half to cut the UM lead to 13-12 at the break.
 
The Vandals shocked the entire stadium, including the Montana special teams unit, when they went for the onside kick to start the half. It was recovered by the Vandals and Idaho drove to the 23 before Chavez hit a 40-yarder to give Idaho the lead. It was the first time all season that the Grizzlies would trail in the second half and it was also the last time Montana would lead in this game.
 
A huge punt return and a penalty gave the Vandals the ball at the Montana 43-yard line and Idaho immediately took a shot. McCoy found Hatten again to put Idaho up 22-13.
 
The Grizzlies responded with a field goal, but a McCormick interception late in the fourth was ran back to the Montana two-yard line. Roshaun Johnson punched it in three plays late to put the Vandals up 30-16.
 
The Grizzlies responded with a touchdown drive with 32 seconds left, but Hayden Hatten again came up big, gathering the on-side kick attempt and clinching the win for the Vandals.
 
Idaho moves to 4-2 overall, including 4-0 against FCS teams and 3-0 in Big Sky play. The Vandals break up a seven-game win streak in the series which dates back to the year 2000. A win by the Grizzlies would have tied Idaho's eight-game streak in 1951-59. The Vandals are now 56-30-2 all-time against Montana.
  
NOTES

• The Vandals gave up their first turnover since game one of the season, but still won the turnover margin 2-1. The Vandals are now 12-3 on the year for turnovers.
• Paul Moala had his third interception of the season and took over the lead of the Vandal mark this season. He held the lead for two minutes and 18 seconds before "Turnover" Tommy McCormick picked off Johnson again to tie Moala with three on the year.
• Gevani McCoy was 21-27 (77.8%) on the day. In three Big Sky games, McCoy is 61-74 (82.4%) for 768 yards and seven touchdowns to just one interception.
• Hayden Hatten hit the century mark for the second consecutive game, with nine catches for 149 yards. He also had two touchdowns for the second game in a row.
• Jermaine Jackson continues his stellar season with 95 yards on seven catches.
• The Vandal defense held Montana to just 34 yards rushing. It is their lowest rushing total since rushing for 17 yards against Weber State on Dec. 13, 2019.
• Idaho dominated time of possession, holding onto the ball for 42:08. The highest mark of the season for the team that leads the FCS in time of possession.

UP NEXT
The Vandals return home to host Portland State Saturday, Oct. 22 at noon. PSU is 2-4 on the year after falling at Weber State at home 42-7. Tickets are still available by visiting GoVandals.com/tickets