Fourth Quarter Comeback Boosts Idaho Past Montana State

Friday, October 2

Moscow, ID

8:30 pm MT

Montana State University

5-1 , 2-1

Idaho

1-4 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Montana St.	10	14	3	7	34
Idaho	7	13	0	15	35

Carter Dahlke

Photo by: Daryn Hendrickson

10/3/2026 12:59:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Top-ranked Cats lose 19-game winning streak

By: Bill Lamberty

MOSCOW, Idaho (Oct. 2, 2026) – Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Jezirio then rushed for the two-point conversion to give Idaho a 35-34 win over top-ranked Montana State in Moscow on Friday.

Idaho overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit, powered by Wood and Jezirio. Wood threw for 315 yards and rushed for another 41, accounting for three touchdowns. Jezirio's 147 receiving yards was a career high, and the game-winning score was his second touchdown.

The Bobcats scored on a late third quarter field goal to go ahead by seven, the Patrick Duchien's touchdown pushed the Cats in front 34-20 with 13:29 to play. Wood scored from one yard out with 9:54 remaining to pull Idaho within a touchdown. The Bobcats missed a 52-yard field goal with 3:22 to play, then failed to score after driving into Idaho territory in the game's final minute.

Duchien threw for 249 yards and rushed for 92 to lead the Bobcats. Carter Dahlke caught 10 passes for 126 yards, his second 100-yard receiving game in as many starts.

The first half was a scrap, with the teams trading blows throughout, with the Bobcats scoring on four of their seven possessions and Idaho scoring on four of six. The Bobcats took the opening drive to the Vandals' three, but settled for a field goal after the Idaho defense stuffed Duchien on first down then forced a pair of incomplete passes. Myles Sansted mad a 21-yard field goal.

Idaho's answer was emphatic. Joshua Wood evaded the grasp of a Bobcat defender, then launched a pass to a wide open Ryan Jezorio for a 75-yard touchdown. After the teams traded punts, the Bobcats struck quickly. Passes to Bruin Fleischmann for seven and Carter Dahlke for 20, sandwiched around a nine-yard Duchien run, set up a 20-yard scoring strike to Dahlke to give MSU a 10-7 lead.

Idaho countered with a pair of second-quarter field goals from Owen Forsman, 45 yards and 22 yards, but Jared White scampered in from 32 yards out to give the Bobcats a 17-13 lead with 7:11 to play in the half. Neither team was done scoring.

Joshua Wood marched the Vandals 75 yards in nine plays, and when Damonte Bias scored from seven yards with 2:22 to play the Vandals led 20-17. The Bobcats took over at their own 25, and moved to the Vandals 15 with just over one minute remaining in the half. On first-and-10, Duchien connected with Dane Steel from 15 yards to provide MSU its 24-20 halftime cushion. Sansted missed a field goal for the first time in 2026 as time expired.

The loss snapped MSU's 19-game winning streak. The Bobcats enter their bye week 5-1 on the season. Idaho is now 1-4.

#GoCatsGo