University of Idaho Athletics

FINAL SCORE: Idaho 39, Abilene Christian 41

RECORDS: Idaho (0-4, 0-1), Abilene Christian (1-3, 0-0)

IDAHO LEADERS 
PASSING: Joshua Wood (22-34, 326 YDS, 1 TD) 
RUSHING: Joshua Wood (13 ATT, 37 YDS, 4 TD), Hayden Kincheloe (9 ATT, 28 YDS)
RECEIVING: Tony Harste (6 REC, 151 YDS, 1 TD), Noah West-Baranco (6 REC, 60 YDS)
DEFENSE: Cruz Hepburn (10 TKL, 0.5 TFL), Mitchel Jaskowiak (10 TKL, 0.5 SACK), Zach Wusstig (9 TKL, 1 SACK), Niko Speer (9 TKL, 1 SACK)

NOTABLES:

• QB Joshua Wood threw for 326 yards, his second 300+ yard performance as a Vandal.

  • Wood ran for four touchdowns, the most by a Vandal QB in a game in the past decade.

• TE Noah West-Baranco snagged six catches for 60 yards, both career highs.

• RB Hayden Kincheloe caught two passes for a career-high 37 yards.

• WR Tony Harste posted 151 yards on six receptions and a touchdown.

• DT Mitchel Jaskowiak pulled down 10 tackles and 0.5 sacks, both career-highs.

• Idaho scored 39 points, the most by a Vandal offense in the Kibbie Dome since September 14, 2024, against UAlbany.

MOSCOW, Idaho -  Despite a career effort from quarterback Joshua Wood that included 363 all-purpose yards and five total scores, Idaho Football was narrowly edged by Abilene Christian in the non-conference finale, dropping a 39-41 result in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.  

Idaho received the opening kickoff, allowing the UI offense to get started early. The Vandals opened the game with an efficient passing attack, finding the end zone in nine plays while taking just under four minutes off the clock. Wood, who powered the drive going 5-6 for 68 yards through the air, connected with Hayden Kincheloe on a 22-yard seam route before finding the end zone himself on a one-yard keeper to give the Vandals a quick 7-0 lead.

ACU responded quickly, piecing together a 12-play drive that included a 29-yard run to tie the game with 5:16 remaining in the opening quarter. The Vandals took over at their own 25-yard line and continued a methodical start to the contest. Facing fourth-and-short on the opening series, Wood connected with tight end Noah West-Baranco on an 11-yard completion to move the chains. Following a series of completions, Rathdrum's finest, Owen Forsman, gave Idaho a 10-7 lead by splitting the uprights from 38 yards out.

The Wildcats took over following a touchback, looking to maintain the offensive rhythm from their opening drive. On second-and-six, safety Brody Michael sniffed out a screen play and brought down the receiver for a tackle for loss. The play set up third-and-seven in front of an energetic Moscow crowd, who watched the pass fall to the turf, giving possession back to Idaho. 

The Vandals struggled to make progress on their third offensive drive, resulting in a punt that was nearly returned to the Idaho red zone. ACU needed just one play to capitalize, finding paydirt on the ground to take a 14-10 lead.

The two teams traded possessions before UI began its next drive at the 13-yard line. Wood found his favorite target Tony Harste on back-to-back deep balls, connecting on a 25-yard reception before hitting Harste again on a post for a 47-yard score. The explosive connection gave the Black and Gold a 17-14 lead with the first half approaching the two-minute mark.

Abilene Christian took over at its own 25-yard line and marched down the field, finding the end zone in the final seconds of the period to take a 21-17 lead into the break.

The Wildcats opened the second half with possession, gaining 12 yards on the opening play. Idaho's defense stood strong, holding ACU to a third-and-six. DE Luke Teskey provided a spark, tipping a pass at the line to force the Wildcats to punt the ball back to the Vandals.

UI's rushing attack caught fire the next drive, facing just one third down the whole way. Rushing efforts from Hayden Kincheloe and Israel Carter moved Idaho into scoring position before Wood found the end zone for the second time, making a two-yard touchdown push and giving the Vandals a 24-21 lead. The 11-play, 75-yard drive featured nine plays on the ground, a significant shift from Idaho's first-half attack.

Abilene Christian responded by marching down the field, reaching the Idaho 5-yard line before a four-play goal-line scrap. Lee Stalker's defense was powered by a raucous crowd, with S Zach Wusstig recording a sack on first down as the third quarter expired. Idaho's pressure continued on the next two plays, as Teskey and Mitchel Jaskowiak combined for another sack, forcing ACU to settle for a 31-yard field goal attempt that tied the game at 24-all.

Idaho regained possession to open the fourth quarter, but ACU brought the same pressure the Vandals had applied defensively, recording a sack before forcing an Idaho fumble on the following play. The Wildcats were set up deep in Vandal territory, but the Brave and Bold defense immediately responded, forcing ACU into a long field goal try, where they regained the lead, 27-24.

Abilene Christian extended its lead two plays later, getting to Wood to force a strip sack that was returned for a touchdown with 10:19 remaining in the game to push the gap to 10. Idaho received the ensuing kickoff but turned the ball over on downs. ACU continued to add to its lead, scoring on a one-play drive to push the advantage to 17.

The Vandals mounted one final push, started by a 33-yard completion from Wood to Harste. The senior signal-caller found the end zone eight plays later on his third rushing score of the day from nine yards out, closing the deficit to 41-32 after a successful two-point conversion.

Stalker's defense stood its ground again, forcing a Wildcat punt. Wood completed six straight passes before punching it in on a three-yard rush, minimizing the gap to 41-39. The effort on the ground marked the first time an Idaho quarterback recorded four rushing touchdowns in a single game since at least 2010.

ACU secured the onside kick, bleeding out the final seconds and securing the result. 

UP NEXT: After a much-needed bye week, the Vandals will finish their three-game home stretch, opening Big Sky Conference play against Montana State on Friday, October 2, inside the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM, with the game airing on ESPN and the Vandal Radio Network.

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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.