Defensive stop helps Vandals keep distance from Eagles

MOSCOW — Idaho redshirt junior Jhamell Blenman was one of many cornerbacks looking to fill in the gaps after three starting DBs left via the transfer portal following last season. 

Then, due to injuries in the defensive backfield this season, Blenman’s playing time went up. 

On Saturday night, Blenman made perhaps the biggest defensive play of the game, tackling star Eastern Washington receiver Efton Chism III after a reception for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal at the Vandal 1. 

The play preserved a four-point Idaho lead, the Vandals drove 98 yards for a touchdown, and went on to beat the Eagles 38-28 in Big Sky Conference football before 13,277 at the Kibbie Dome. 

“The turning point was our defense making the goal line stop, and that has become our calling card,” said Idaho coach Jason Eck, whose squad pulled off a similar stand in a victory over Northern Arizona earlier this season. 

Idaho (6-3, 3-2 Big Sky) beat Eastern (2-6, 1-3) for the third straight season, all since Eck arrived in 2022. 

Idaho led 17-13 at halftime, but Eastern was driving on the first possession of the second half before the Vandals came up with the stop. 

Two snaps after Blenman’s play, Deshaun Buchanan broke a 72-yard run up the middle, then completed the drive with a 1-yard run. 

Eastern turned the ball over on its next possession. Quarterback Kekoa Visperas fumbled at the end of a 13-yard run and Kyrin Beachem recovered for Idaho at the Vandal 48. 

Idaho drove for another touchdown, with running quarterback Rocco Koch plowing in from 3 yards out for a 31-13 Vandal lead early in the fourth quarter. 

The teams then traded touchdowns after that. 

Jared Taylor, Eastern’s running quarterback, threw a touchdown pass, and Buchanan answered with a 12-yard TD run after a roughing-the-passer penalty on the Eagles kept Idaho’s drive alive. 

On the ensuing kickoff, true freshman Owen Forsman from Lakeland High booted the ball a good 6 yards deep in the end zone. But Eastern’s Michael Wortham brought it out, ran through a tackle and was gone for a touchdown. 

“I think our guys came to play; I just didn’t think we put it all together,” EWU coach Aaron Best said. “When it’s all said and done, if we hold onto the ball, if we score inside the 5, the game is different. Self inflicted is the thing that comes to mind.” 

Idaho redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Layne returned to action for the first time since suffering a broken collarbone in the season opener at Oregon. Layne threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, both in the first half. 

“It’s funny, when you get hurt, you gain a perspective of what it’s like to be out there,” Layne said. 

“Jack played with a lot of courage today,” Eck said. “He stayed in there, threw the ball and took some hits.” 

With one of Idaho’s top two backs out with injuries, and the other limited, Buchanan finished with 116 yards on eight carries — though he bemoaned getting caught from behind on that long run.  

“We just talk about taking advantage of our opportunities,” Buchanan said. “My opportunity was there, and I took advantage of it.” 

Idaho outgained Eastern 487-388. Chism finished with seven catches for 114 yards. 

Zach Johnson, a redshirt freshman linebacker from Lake City High, had seven tackles for the Vandals, including one tackle-for-loss, and one pass breakup. Safety Tommy McCormick had 18 tackles.

Idaho has a bye next week, then returns to action Nov. 9 at Portland State. 

EWU    7    6    0    15    —    28 

Idaho    7    10    7    14    —    38 

First quarter 

Idaho — Moore 4 pass from Layne (Pope kick), 9:32 

EWU — Visperas 1 run (McKee kick), 5:35 

Second quarter 

Idaho — Dwyer 15 pass from Layne (Pope kick), 14:51 

EWU — FG McKee 24, 12:15 

Idaho — FG Pope 34, 4:25 

EWU — FG McKee 44, 1:24 

Third quarter 

Idaho — Buchanan 1 run (Pope kick), 4:11 

Fourth quarter 

Idaho — Koch 3 run (Pope kick), 14:25 

EWU — Murphy 3 pass from Taylor (Chism pass from Taylor), 8:18 

Idaho — Buchanan 12 run (Pope kick), 5:06 

EWU — Wortham 100 kickoff return (McKee kick), 4:54 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — EWU, Altahir 13-67, Taylor 13-63, Yetts 7-51, Visperas 9-26, Wortham 2-10, Cronquist 1-0. Idaho, Buchanan 8-116, Williams 11-60, Cummings 7-38, Koch 9-37, Layne 3-7, Cortez-Menjivar 2-(minus 1). 

PASSING — EWU, Visperas 11-14-0-156, Taylor 3-4-0-176. Idaho, Layne 17-28-1-235. 

RECEIVING — EWU, Chism 7-114, Garrrett 3-25, Altahir 1-12, Cronquist 1-12, Wortham 1-7, Murphy 1-3. Idaho, Dwyer 4-78, Hamper 3-61, Martinez 3-42, Moore 3-25, Mini 2-11, Cortez-Menjivar 1-13, Buchanan 1-5.