Vandals top Lumberjacks in overtime thriller

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Nov. 1—The Idaho Vandals won their first game against a ranked opponent this year, Friday, against the No. 19 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in a 35-32 overtime thriller at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz.

In just two snaps in the overtime period, the Vandals (4-5, 2-3 Big Sky) used a 24-yard gain from Elisha Cummings to get down to the 1-yard line. Then the ball was punched in by fullback Hayden Kincheloe for a 1-yard score as the Vandals started to storm the field while Northern Arizona (5-4, 2-3) looked on.

Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. said that this game showed the ability of the team to fight through adversity.

"It felt alleviating in a lot of ways. No. 1, whenever you go on the road and you're playing a ranked opponent, that's tough, just in general, but to be able to come in, get a road victory, especially an overtime victory, that just tells me that this team's resolve is true," Ford said.

Idaho's offensive success

The Vandals' offense found success in the first half; they scored 19 points during the second quarter.

Elisha Cummings was the engine of the offense, rushing for a season-high 106 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown and catching five passes for 78 yards and another score.

Cummings scored a touchdown in the second quarter on a Wood pass to the right side of the field. No Lumberjack player was within 15 yards of Cummings and he waltzed into the end zone after a defender caught up and forced him to go a bit quicker across the goal line. Cummings was the Vandals' leading receiver.

Cummings gave credit to his offensive line for his success throughout the contest.

"They're a great, awesome group of guys on and off the field," Cummings said. "I believe in them and everything that they do, and I think just following them is just a great way to the promised land."

Joshua Wood had a terrific second quarter. Wood was 6-for-7 for 50 yards and threw two touchdowns.

In the second half, Wood had a tougher time. He went 5-for-17 for 59 yards and an interception in the end zone.

Wood finished the game 15-for-31 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

His performance in the first half helped boost the team, but the elite play of Cummings put the Vandals over the top.

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Kincheloe had the closer with the 1-yard touchdown to end the game. He only rushed two times and finished with 4 yards on the ground.

Vandals defensive performance/special teams blunders

One of the most crucial plays of the game on either side of the ball for the Vandals was when sophomore defensive tackle Frederick Lujan III strip sacked NAU quarterback Ty Pennington and then junior linebacker Cruz Hepburn, of Lewiston High, scooped the ball up and ran it back 63 yards for a score. This put the Vandals up 26-7 after the extra point.

Ford said Lujan made a great play on the quarterback to force the fumble on the scoop-and-score. But once Hepburn scooped the ball, he knew it was a touchdown.

"The first thing was Freddy Lujan getting the pressure," Ford said. "I mean, he had an unbelievable move to make the sack. Then he gets the ball out as he's tackling him. That's what I saw first. And then I saw the ball on the ground, and Cruz Hepburn with no one in front of him.

"He's way too fast for anybody to catch him on that sideline. So I was pretty fired up about that play."

Junior linebacker Dylan Layne led the Vandals in tackles with 12 total (three solo) and had 2 1/2 tackles for loss.

Sophomore safeties Hayden John and Matt Irwin were second on the team with 11 tackles each with John having a pass breakup and Irwin with half a tackle for loss.

The Vandals had some issues with special teams during this contest.

The first score of the game was a blocked punt by NAU junior running back and special teamer Ryan Fontaine on a Cameron Pope attempted punt and Fontaine returned it for a score to put the Lumberjacks up 7-0 after the extra point to open up the scoring.

Idaho kicker Owen Adams also had his first point after attempt blocked by the Lumberjacks.

What's next?

Idaho has two straight wins with this game and is standing at 4-5 on the season.

The Vandals will play at home in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome next week against one of their toughest opponents on the season in No. 6 UC Davis at 4 p.m. next Saturday.

Junt can be reached at 208-848-2258, tjunt@lmtribune.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @TrevorJunt.

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