MOSCOW, ID. – Idaho needed one final kick to escape with a victory Saturday, as Owen Forsman drilled a 53-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Vandals to a 31-28 win over Southern Utah.
The Vandals appeared to have control late in the fourth quarter, but the Thunderbirds delivered a dramatic rally to tie the game with less than a minute remaining. Idaho responded with a final drive, setting up Forsman for the game-winning kick at the buzzer.
Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Markel Taylor for a 19-yard score in the second quarter and Gus Donnerberg for a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth.
The Vandals also got a rushing touchdown from Hayden Kincheloe, who scored from a yard out late in the first half. Wood connected with Donnerberg for a two-point conversion on the play, giving Idaho an 18-10 advantage heading into halftime.
Southern Utah answered immediately after the break.
Will Burns broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown run on the Thunderbirds’ opening drive of the second half. Burns followed it up with a successful two-point conversion pass to Jack Fairchild, tying the game at 18.
Forsman gave Idaho the lead back with a 25-yard field goal late in the third quarter, and the Vandals extended their advantage to 28-18 when Wood found Donnerberg in the end zone early in the fourth.
Southern Utah refused to go away.
Jayden Rogers connected on a 32-yard field goal to pull the Thunderbirds within a touchdown, and the defense gave the offense another opportunity to make a push.
With 42 seconds remaining, Burns found Mark Bails for a 57-yard touchdown pass, and Rogers’ extra point tied the game at 28.
But the Vandals had just enough time to answer.
Idaho moved the ball 40 yards in six plays, setting up Forsman for his longest field goal of the afternoon. The senior kicker connected from 53 yards as the clock hit zero, securing the three-point victory.
Forsman’s game-winner capped a performance in which he made field goals from 35, 25 and 53 yards. He also converted the extra point after Idaho’s first touchdown.
For Southern Utah, Burns was a major catalyst in the second-half comeback, producing the 76-yard rushing touchdown and the late scoring strike to Bails.
Despite the Thunderbirds’ late surge, Idaho made the final play needed to earn the win, with Forsman delivering a clutch kick to prevent the game from heading to overtime.
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