BEAUMONT, Texas – Gevani McCoy found Hayden Hatten for a six-yard touchdown pass to cap a 70-yard opening drive. It was the beginning of a dominating 42-17 season-opening win for Idaho Vandals on the road at Lamar.

Hatten capped his night with six receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Nick Romano in the second half.

Anthony Woods ended the day with 13 rushes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He ended just one-yard shy of his career high, but it is his first multi-touchdown game in his career. Another highlight for Woods was a 93-yard rush late in the first half. It was the second-longest rush in Idaho history and the longest since 1930.

McCoy ended the game throwing 14-19 for 164 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 41 yards of five rushes. McCoy and most of the other Vandal starters sat the entire fourth quarter.

The Vandals scored on the first two possessions of the game and led 28-0 at the half. Idaho added a touchdown on their first drive in the second half on Hatten's touchdown pass to Romano to take a 35-0 lead.

Lamar scored a field goal in the third quarter, before Jack Layne threw a 15-yard touchdown to Texas native Jake Cox a 42-3 lead with 9:08 to play in the game.

Lamar added a couple of touchdowns late against the Vandal second and third-team players for the 42-17 win.

The Vandals finished with 497 total yards of offense, including 273 yards rushing on 36 carries, a total of 7.6 yards per carry.

Lamar was held to 190 yards of total offense, 92 of those yards coming in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT
With the Thursday game, Idaho will get an extended break before heading to Reno to play the University of Nevada next Saturday at 4 p.m. pacific. The Wolfpack travel to face USC Saturday in Los Angeles in their season opener.

IN GAME NOTES

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

• McCoy was 7-for-7 for 69 yards on the first possession.
• Keyshawn James-Newby recorded a knockdown on his first series as a DI player. 
• Hatten tied Kasey Dunn for second on the Vandal career receiving touchdown list with 25. He is two short of Jerry Hendren's 27. 
• Anthony Woods' touchdown was the fourth of his career. 
• Tylen Coleman with a sack and forced fumble during his first quarter of DI play. 

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

• Anthony Woods scored two touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career.
• The blocked PAT was the first blocked kick of any kind in the Eck regime. 
• Anthony Woods' 93-yard run is the second-longest run in Vandal history. 
• It is the longest run since a 99-yard rush by George Wilson against Whitman on Oct. 18, 1930. 
• It was the third-longest play from scrimmage in Vandal history. 
• It was the longest non-scoring play in Idaho history. 
• Woods has surpassed 100 yards rushing for the third time in his carrer. He is three yards from his career high. 
• Hayden Hatten is now one TD short of Jerry Hendren's all-time Vandal receiving TD record.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

• Romano's touchdown reception is the third of his career and the first since the 2019 season.
• It was his first touchdown of any kind since the 2020 season. 
• The pass was Hatten's first career touchdown pass. He is now 2-3 all time for 75 yards and a touchdown. He went 1-2 for 30 yards in 2022. 

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

• Jake Cox scored his first-career TD. The El Paso (Coranado HS) native scored in his home state. He also scored a two-point conversion in the first half. 

 
Idaho and the weather
Temperature when we departed Pullman-Moscow International - 58 degrees/overcast/light rain
Temperature at Provost Umphrey Stadium at kickoff - 92 degrees/mostly cloudy/ 32% humidity
Temperature in the Kibbie Dome - 72 no wind

 
FIRST STARTS
Several Vandals are expected to make their first starts at Idaho, including four on the defense. 

• OFFENSE 

            - Charlie Vliem - RT

• DEFENSE
  • Jahkari Larmond - DT
  • Tre Thomas - LB
  • Dylan Layne - LB
  • Ormanie Arnold - CB

 
Pregame Quick Notes

• First game for Idaho in Texas since 2016 when the Vandals topped Texas State 47-14 in San Marcos on Nov. 12. 
• Back-to-back games against the Southland team after the 2022 playoff loss to Southeastern La.
• Idaho is scheduled to play Abilene Christian on Sept. 21, 2024.