Facing another FCS Top 25 team, Idaho turns to rushing game to earn big road victory

Looking to return to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the Idaho Vandals are off to a promising start.

Anthony Woods rushed for a career-high 183 yards Saturday, part of the team’s mammoth 363-yard effort on the ground in a 44-36 win over Eastern Washington. It was Idaho’s first win in Cheney, Washington, since 1994.

Woods had five touchdown runs for the Vandals (4-1, 2-0 Big Sky), who also got 129 yards rushing from Nick Romano. QB Gevani McCoy attempted only 18 passes, completing eight for 128 yards and a TD.

Idaho also rushed for over 300 yards last season in a win over the Eagles, on its way to a 7-4 regular-season record and FCS playoff berth.

The Vandals, who averaged over 7 yards per rush, and Eastern Washington both scored in every quarter Saturday and were tied 21-21 at halftime. Idaho trailed 28-21 in the third quarter before ripping off four straight scoring drives to take control of the game. Woods’ 60-yard touchdown run gave the Vandals a 44-28 lead midway through the final quarter.

After Eastern cut the lead to 44-36, Woods and Romano led a 14-play, 63-yard drive that ate up the final 6:37 of the game, allowing the Vandals to go into victory formation at the Eagles’ 10-yard line.

It was Idaho’s second win over an FCS Top 25 team in as many weeks, having defeated then-No. 4 Sacramento State last Saturday. The Vandals are ranked No. 4 themselves now, while the Eagles (2-3, 1-1) entered the game at No. 19.

Idaho plays at Cal Poly next Saturday at 6 p.m.