CHENEY, Wash. - Anthony Woods rushed for a career-high 183 yards and five touchdowns to lead Idaho to a 44-36 win over Eastern Washington for the first win for the Idaho Vandals in Cheney since 1994. 

The Vandals racked up 363 yards rushing and 491 of total offense. Woods and fellow running back Nick Romano each rushed for over 100 yards, the first time Idaho had two rushers over 100 yards over a DI school since 2004 against Louisiana. The Vandals averaged 7.1 yards per carry for the game.

Idaho again opened the game with a score on the opening drive, Woods capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown. 

Eastern Washington, behind backup quarterbacks Jarod Taylor and Michael Wortham responded with a touchdown of their own to even the score at 7-7 late in the first quarter. The Eagles took a 14-7 lead in the second before Idaho responded with an 11-yard touchdown pass from McCoy to Alex Moore. 

EWU again responded with a long touchdown run, but Idaho tied the game with a 17-yard Woods touchdown with 33 seconds left in the first half. The score was tied 21-21 at the half, Idaho has yet to trail at the half this season. 

Eastern Washington looked like they were rolling in the second half with an early touchdown drive, but Jermaine Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff to the EWU seven-yard line, setting up a short Woods touchdown. It was the first of 23 unanswered including  a Ricardo Chavez field goal and three Woods touchdowns to take a 44-28 lead with 8:49 left in the game. 

Eastern Washington scored a touchdown with 6:37 remaining, but the Vandals drove 63 yards in 14 plays and ate the remainder of the clock to close out the eight-point win in victory formation. 

Idaho earned a road win in Cheney for the first time since 1994 and is now 4-1 for the first time since the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl team. The win was the second consecutive ranked win for the Vandals after topping Sacramento State last week in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. 

Woods moves into historic territory with his performance. He joins Roshaun Johnson as the only Vandal to score five or more touchdowns in a game. Johnson scored six against Southern Utah in 2021. 

Tommy McCormick and Tre Thomas led the Vandals with seven tackles each. Keyshawn James-Newby had the lone sack of the game for either team, a nine-yard loss in the second half. 

UP NEXT:
The Vandals are on the road to face Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California, a week from today.


NOTES:

Idaho at Eastern Washington In-Game Notes
Pregame Notes

• Last road win over Eastern Washington was 1999. The game was played at Joe Albi Stadium. 
• The last Football win for the Vandals in Cheney was in 1994. 

First Quarter

• Jermaine Jackson rushed for 31 yards on the opening play - a career-long.
• Vandals have scored on the opening drive every game this season (five times 4 TDS, 1 FG).
• Woods shotgun TD, 2-yds - fifth Touchdown of the season.
• Woods has scored in four of five games with the lone exception being the Nevada game.

Second Quarter

• Nick Romano 40-yard rush, Romano's season-long.
• TD Moore from McCoy, 11 yds - second of season/career.
• Hatten 32 yd reception on 3rd & 17 led to tying TD.
• Woods TD 17 yds
• Woods has scored two TDs in two games this season (at Lamar) - ties career high.
• The Vandals have not trailed at half in any game this season.
• 21 points is the most allowed by the Vandals in the first half this season. 
• 21 points is the second-most points scored this season, second to 28 scored against Lamar.
• Eastern Washington 

Third Quarter

• Career high three touchdowns for Woods
• As many touchdowns as Woods scored in all of 2022. .
• Chavez 9-9 FGs this season
• James-Newby records the first Vandal sack of game, loss of nine yards forcing 4th down.
• Idaho has led at the end of the third against every FCS opponent this season. 

Fourth quarter

• Woods opens up the quarter with fourth TD of the game - third 100 yd rushing game of season.
• Second consecutive 100-yard game for Woods after going 117 yards against Sacramento State. 
• Chavez missed the first PAT of his Idaho career. Was 60-60 before the miss in his two seasons at Idaho.
• First four-rushing touchdown game for a Vandal since Roshaun Johnson's school-record six touchdowns against Southern Utah on Nov. 6, 2021. 

Full-Game Notes

• Woods is alone at second in school history with five touchdowns in a game. Six players are tied for third with four. 
• First 300-plus rushing game since last season's 308 rushing yards against Eastern Washington on Nov. 5, 2022. 
• First time Idaho had two 100-yard rushers since 2019 against Central Washington. 
• First time Idaho had two 100-yard rushers against a Division I team since 2004 against Louisiana.