GAME STORY AND NOTES
No. 12 IDAHO AT WASHINGTON STATE
AUG. 30, 2025
Postgame Press Conference
Highlights

VANDALS TAKE COUGARS TO THE WIRE IN SEASON OPENER

FINAL SCORE: Idaho 10, Washington State 13
RECORDS: Idaho (0-1), Washington State (1-0)
IDAHO LEADERS: Joshua Wood (11-19, 101 yard rushing, 51 yards passing), Isiah King (10 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack), Art Williams (35 rushing yards, 1 touchdown). 

NOTABLES:

• Joshua Wood set a career-high with 101 rushing yards, more than three times his previous top mark of 32.

• For the second-straight time, Idaho held an FBS opponent to 13 points and less than 300 yards of total offense

• This was the first 100-yard rushing game by an Idaho QB since Zach Borisch recorded 108 vs. Montana State (Nov. 13, 2021)

• Isiah King recorded a new career-high in tackles with 10

• Saturday's action marked the first game as a Division I head coach for Thomas Ford Jr. 

• Idaho outgained Washington State in rushing in all four quarters (188-3)

PULLMAN, Wash. - On a Saturday evening in the lone football game to be broadcast on The CW, Idaho football opened the season with the return of the Battle of the Palouse with the most storied rival in the school's history, the Washington State Cougars. Both teams entered the season with new head coaches, both of whom were eager to renew the series.

The Vandals and Cougars were neck and neck from the jump in a defensive slugfest that led to a scoreless first quarter. Despite this, the Vandals outgained WSU in yards 59-15 and outrushed them 39-8.

Idaho also forced two consecutive three-and-outs to start the game, highlighted by Dylan Layne and Mitch Jaskowiak sharing a tackle for loss, and Isiah King making an open-field stop of Jaxon Potter on third down.

The second quarter saw the first points of the game when the Cougs led a drive that ended in a touchdown. Despite the adversity, Joshua Wood surpassed his previous career high for most rushing yards in a game (32 vs. Northern Illinois in 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl). 

With under two minutes to go in the first half, Wood threw a 36-yard pass to Michael Graves down to the 7-yard line, which was initially ruled a fumble to be recovered by WSU. The play, however, was reviewed and declared an incompletion. The half closed 7-0 in favor of the hosts despite Idaho holding the advantage in total yardage, 131-128, including an 80-yard lead in rushing.

Idaho's defense continued to make big plays, including starting the second half with a TFL by King to force a three-and-out, and held the Cougs to just a field goal in the third quarter.

The offense found a rhythm in the fourth, piecing together a 16-play, 75-yard drive that bled nearly nine minutes off the clock. Art Williams capitalized on the series with a three-yard touchdown between the tackles to put the Vandals on the board.

The defense would come out and answer with a big play of their own. With less than three minutes to go, Matyus McLain battled through the line to strip sack Potter, and Donovan Parham fell on the loose ball to secure possession for Idaho inside the red zone. Cameron Pope sealed the ensuing drive with a 21-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 apiece.

The Cougs moved down the field to take the lead with a 32-yard field goal with less than ten seconds remaining. The game was initially ruled over following the ensuing kickoff. However, it was determined that Aaron Kinsey called for a fair catch inside the 25, giving his team one final play. A short pass from Joshua Wood to Jake Cox followed by series of laterals ended at the Vandals' seven yard line, bringing the clock to zero.

The Vandals will kick off their six-game home slate next Saturday, Sep. 6, at 1:00 PM vs. the St. Thomas Tommies. Idaho will be celebrating its Ag Appreciation Game, sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission 

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TICKETS: Season tickets, mini plans, and single-game tickets are available here or by calling the Idaho Ticket Office at (208) 885-6466.