Coach Ford Postgame Press Conference

FINAL SCORE: No. 8 Idaho 30, No. 4 Montana 41

RECORDS: No. 8 Idaho (2-3), No. 4 Montana (4-0)

IDAHO LEADERS 
PASSING: Joshua Wood (14-28, 262 YDS)
RUSHING: Nate Thomas (19 ATT, 70 YDS, 3.7 AVG), Joshua Wood (10 ATT, 32 YDS, 3 TDs)
RECEIVING: Ryan Jezioro (4 REC, 102 YDS)
DEFENSE: Cruz Hepburn (10 TKL, 1.0 TFL) // Hikifo'Ou Maile, Will Cornelson (1.0 Sack)

NOTABLES:

• QB Joshua Wood's sixth rushing touchdown of the year.
• QB Joshua Wood's set single game career-high with three rushing touchdowns.
• K Owen Adam's first career field goal (31 yards). 
• WR Ryan Jezioro new career-long reception of 62-yards
• WR Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar new career-long reception of 47-yards
• WR Daveon Superales new career-long reception 45-yards
• Idaho's defense held Montana to their lowest passing total this season, 223 yards. 
• Idaho became the first team to score 30 points on Montana this season.
• With three rushing touchdowns, Idaho rushed for more touchdowns against Montana than anybody else this year

• The Vandals' 262 passing yards are the most conceded by the Griz this year

• UI's third quarter 86-yard drive is the longest the Griz have surrendered this season

MISSOULA, Mont. - In front of a sellout crowd of 27,025, in the battle for the Little Brown Stein, Idaho fell to Montana resulting in a Grizzly win, 41-30. 

Montana found success in their opening drive with steady movement up the turf. However, Idaho's defense intensified and held the Montana offense to a 37-yard field goal. Valiant efforts were made by Idaho's defense, holding Montana's potent rushing attack to only 16-yards in the first quarter. The Griz punched in a 2-yard touchdown on the ground, to take a 10-point lead. 

The Vandal offense responded with a 12-play march down the field, carried by Nate Thomas and a 19-yard Joshua Wood scramble, setting Idaho up in field goal range. The drive stalled out at the 29, leading to a 31-yard chip shot from Montana native Owen Adams, the first of his career. 

Following an Idaho three-and-out, Montana turned in a six-play, 48-yard drive, ending in an 11-yard touchdown to extend their advantage to 17-3. 

Once again, the Idaho offense battled to diminish the score gap. The Vandals pieced together a nine-play drive, powered by 35-yards in penalties on the Griz defense. Adams knocked in a second field goal, this time a 41-yard score from the right hash. 

At the end of the half, the score sat at 17-6 with Idaho leading in rushing yards, 96 to 63, and controlling time of possession, with over a two-minute advantage, 16:04 to 13:56.

Idaho stalled out to start the second half, giving the ball back to Montana following a three-and-out. The Griz offense pushed down the field and extended their lead to 18 with a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Ryan Jezioro kick-started the Idaho offense with a career-long 62-yard reception. The Vandals carried that momentum to the end zone, with Wood cashing in for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season. Idaho gambled and succeeded, converting a 2-point play from Wood to Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar, improving the score to 24-14.

The Montana offense remained strong, as the Griz pushed their lead to 31-14 following a series of completions with less than a minute remaining in the third.

Cortez-Menjivar also set a new career-long reception with a 47-yard grab. During this drive, Wood scored another touchdown with a four-yard run. 
The Vandals offense continued to set new records as Daveon Superales also marked a new career-long reception of 45-yards. Joshua Wood drove in another rushing touchdown, his third on the night and sixth of the year. With a 12-yard catch on the final drive, Jezioro became the first Vandal receiver this season to break 100 receiving yards in a game. 

UP NEXT: Vandals head into their bye week before hosting Northern Colorado on Oct. 11 in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome for Idaho Homecoming 
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow the Vandals on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates.
TICKETS: Season tickets, mini plans, and single-game tickets are available here or by calling the Idaho Ticket Office at (208) 885-6466.