19

Idaho
UID

10-4, 6-2

52

winner

Montana St.
MSU

14-0, 8-0

19

52

Montana St.
MSU

14-0, 8-0

winner

Points by quarters

team	1	2	3	4	F
UID Idaho	7	3	0	9	19
MSU Montana St.	7	24	14	7	52

Match Review: Football | 12/13/2024

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State’s top-seeded offense quickly scored 24 points in the second quarter, building on misses from Idaho and coming away with a 52-19 victory. That ended the season for the Idaho Vandal football team in the FCS quarterfinals Friday night in Bozeman.

The two teams battled back and forth in the first quarter and ended the first frame in a 7-7 tie.

After an MSU field goal, Idaho responded with one of its own, tying the game at 10-10, but a missed onside kick attempt gave Montana State a short field goal. The Bobcats took a 3:47 lead into the second period. The TD was followed by a Vandal fumble and another MSU touchdown, giving the Bobcats a 24-10 lead.

MSU forced a quick three-pointer on Idaho’s ensuing possession and scored a touchdown with eight seconds left in the second quarter to take a 31-10 lead at halftime.

A turnover on the Vandals’ first possession of the second half gave MSU another short field and the Bobcats scored with 9:41 left in the third period to extend the lead to 38-10. Aggressive play calling to get the Vandals back in the game resulted in good field position for Montana State and touchdowns down the stretch.

Jordan Dwyer scored his second touchdown of the game on a 25-yard reception from Layne with 12:31 left in the fourth quarter and Cameron Pope added a 43-yard field goal in the final minutes to cut MSU’s lead to 33, its final lead.

Dwyer set the receiving mark of his career for the third straight time and reached the 100-yard receiving mark for the fourth time in five games. He finished the game with 11 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Jack Layne was 20-30 for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Deshaun Buchanan ran 10 times for 95 yards. Led Idaho’s offense to 407 yards of total offense.

Jaxton Eck counted a total of 13 tackles and Tommy McCormick has nine total tackles and two pass breakups. Jahkari Larmond had one tackle for loss and six total tackles.

The loss does not detract from the Vandals’ outstanding season, with Idaho winning 10 games for the third time in program history and earning its second consecutive FBS victory.

Fifteen Vandals earned All-Big Sky honors and two were finalists for national awards (Keyshawn James Newby – Buchanan Award and Mark Hamper – Jerry Rice Award.)

Idaho had a strong season despite only having one player listed as a senior on offense. The Vandals lost eight players in the transfer portal to FBS teams and graduated four players who were in NFL camps, including two who earned roster spots.

Idaho went 6-0 at home for the first time since 1996 and won by double digits for the first time since 1993. The Vandals reached the FCS quarterfinals in two consecutive years for the first time in program history. Idaho won six straight games for the first time since 1994.