MOSCOW, Idaho – Gevani McCoy threw for four touchdowns and caught another,
Anthony Woods broke the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career and the Idaho defense snagged three interceptions to lead Idaho to a 56-21 win over Portland State Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.
The Vandals racked up a season-high 309 yards rushing, including 139 yards and touchdown on 15 carries by Woods. The freshman averaged 9.3 yards per carry.
Aundre Carter had five carries for 92 yards, including an 83-yard tackle-breaking highlight run in the fourth quarter.
Roshaun Johnson had six carries for 20 yards and two touchdowns.
McCoy was 10-19 for 248 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions on the day.
Jermaine Jackson caught eight balls for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard touchdown on the second Idaho offensive play.
Hayden Hatten caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Elisha Cummings had two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. McCoy caught one pass for 14 yards on the throwback pass from Cummings for a touchdown.
The Vandals and Vikings traded touchdowns early, the score was 14-14 at the end of the first, but Portland State took a 21-14 lead with 4:25 left before half. The Vikings looked to have stifled Idaho's last chance to score before the break, but McCoy scrambled for a 13-yard gain on fourth-and-10 to set up a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jackson with 18 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Vandals opened the second half with a seven-play, 75-yard drive to take a 28-21 lead and the Idaho defense would keep the Vikings out of the endzone for the remainder of the game.
Idaho held Portland State to three yards in the third quarter and 60 yards total in the second half while earning interceptions by
Tommy McCormick and Isaiah King.
Idaho moves to 5-2 on the year, winning its fifth-straight game for the first time since 2016. The Vandals are now 4-0 in Big Sky play. It is the first 4-0 league start since 1994. The last time Idaho started 5-0 in league was 1989.
UP NEXT
Idaho travels hits the road to play Sacramento State in another key Big Sky game at Sacramento State. The game is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday at Hornet Stadium.
NOTES
- Gevani McCoy and Eli Cummings each threw for and caught a touchdown pass on the day. It is the first time that a Vandal player has achieved the feat since Steve Wichman threw for two touchdowns and caught another against Boise State on Nov. 19, 2005.
- The defense picked off Portland State three times for a 3-1 turnover margin pushing the season margin to 15-3 on the year.
- The Vandals outgained PSU 571-333, including a 309-128 margin on the ground. It is the first time that Vandals have run for more than 300 yards in a game against a Division I opponent since rushing for 328 against North Texas during the 2004 season.
- The Vandals are now 4-0 in Big Sky play. It is the first 4-0 league start since 1994. The last time Idaho started 5-0 in league was 1989.
- Idaho has now won more conference games than any season since 2016 when Idaho went 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
- "Turnover" Tommy McCormick snagged his fourth interception of the season and the third in four games. He now has as many interceptions as Idaho had as a team last season.
- Murvin Kenion III snagged an Interception in the first half. It was his third INT of the season.
- The Vandals have two home games remaining this season. Tickets are still available at GoVandals.com/tickets.
