Forsman steps up for Vandals — Former Lakeland Hawk boots first two collegiate field goals; Idaho rushes for 286 yards

From wire and news services and local reports  

MOSCOW — Coming into this week’s game, Owen Forsman didn’t have a starting job. 

Now, the Idaho Vandals’ redshirt freshman placekicker from Lakeland High has three. 

When starting kicker Cameron Pope missed a 43-yard field goal wide to the right, then doinked a 38-yard field goal try off the upright in the first half, Forsman got his chance 

The former Hawk connected from 24 yards out on his first collegiate field goal attempt late in the first half to increase Idaho’s lead to 10-0, then added a 49-yarder in the third quarter as the Vandals beat Utah Tech 20-6 on Saturday before 7,681 at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. 

“We compete always, and he was the guy that was the better player today, both on kickoffs and PAT and field goal, so moving forward, Owen Forsman will be our starter,” first-year Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. said.  

“But they’ll continue to compete, right? Owen, just a week ago, was our starting kickoff guy, did not perform well, and (Owen) Adams came in and took his spot. When Adams came in today, and didn’t perform well, Owen (Forsman) went in and got it back. So those guys are going to continue to compete, but I think it tells you what kind of depth we have in our specialists.” 

Forsman also kicked off four times, two for touchbacks. 

“What is really neat to see is his leg strength,” Ford said of the lefty-kicking Forsman. “When I recruited him as the special teams coordinator, the kid has an unbelievable leg, and I think you got to see that thing rip on that 49-yarder. It probably was good from 60.” 

Idaho (2-1) rushed for 286 yards against Utah Tech (0-3), the school formerly known as Dixie State, from St. George, Utah.  

Art Williams, from Rocky Mountain High in Meridian, led the way with 146 yards on 16 carries, including a 68-yarder in the second quarter. 

Williams praised the offensive line, coached by Lake City High product Loren Endsley. 

“They played their asses off,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them. I’m very grateful for them.” 

Vandal quarterback Joshua Wood added 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts. 

“It makes a huge difference, just teams knowing how good Josh is, and them having to honor the quarterback run,” Williams said. “It opens it up for me.” 

Wood was 14-for-25 with 119 yards and a touchdown as a passer, and put the finishing touches on the victory with an 18-yard touchdown run with 6:27 remaining. That came two plays after the Vandals went for it on fourth and 3 from the Utah Tech 42. Wood hit Ryan Jezioro on a slant pattern for a 22-yard gain. Jezioro finished with five catches for 50 yards and a score. 

Asked about Wood only throwing for 119 yards, Ford replied, “When you run the ball for 286, you don’t need to throw the ball. 

Idaho cornerback Aaron Kinsey, a redshirt freshman from Rogers High in Spokane, sealed the victory with a diving interception at the Vandal 8 with 1:57 remaining. 

“It felt amazing,” Kinsey said. “I was the man in the arena for a while, the drive was going, I was getting out of breath. We ran a Cover 3 and they ran the play two plays before and I said if he throws it again, I’m getting a pick. He did and I got the ball.” 

He also got to celebrate on the Vandal sideline afterward with a sack of “Turnover Taters.” 

Utah Tech, which totaled 55 points in seven-point losses to UC Davis and Northern Arizona, managed just 247 yards and two field goals against Idaho. 

Ford was just as happy with Idaho committing just one penalty for 5 yards on Saturday, after being flagged 13 times for 104 yards the week before in a win over St. Thomas. 

“Last week we won and I came into this same press conference and I didn’t feel it was a win, and today is very different,” Ford said. “We really answered the challenge – offense, defense and special teams. And it was really awesome to see our group play clean football.” 

Ford noted that last week, five players were late to the pregame meal. 

This week ... 

“This is what happens when you really focus,” he said. 

Utah Tech's few highlights came from placekicker Ilya Uvaydov. 

The Trailblazers stole a field goal at the end of the first half.  

With 17 seconds remaining, backup quarterback Reggie Graff had a 23-yard run. He completed a 15-yard pass play to Asa Chatman, leaving two seconds on the clock. 

Uvaydov converted a career-long 55-yard field goal that had to be confirmed by replay after officials initially called the kick no good. Uvaydov also kicked a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter. 

Matyus McLain, a redshirt sophomore defensive end from Priest River High, had three tackles for Idaho.  

Utah Tech, which along with Southern Utah will join the Big Sky Conference in 2026, will begin its United Athletic Conference slate on Sept. 27 at Austin Peay. 

Idaho will travel to San Jose State next Saturday before beginning its Big Sky slate.

Utah Tech    0    3    3    0    —    6 

Idaho    0    10    3    7    —    20 

Second quarter  

IDAHO — Jezioro 6 pass from Wood (Pope kick), 13:12 

IDAHO — FG Forsman 24, :17 

UT — FG Uvaydov 55, :00 

Third quarter 

UT — FG Uvaydov 53, 9:29 

IDAHO — FG Forsman 49, 6:04 

Fourth quarter 

IDAHO — Wood 18 run (Forsman kick), 6:27 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — UT, Graff 7-45, Barben 4-19, Street 5-16, Chatman 5-9, Stone 2-7, Crowell 1-4, Harrison 1-(minus 2). Idaho, Williams 16-146, Wood 11-85, Thomas 8-32, Cummings 4-20, Kinchelow 2-5, Cortez Menjivar 1-2, Koch 1-1, Team 3-(minus 3). 

PASSING — UT, Barben 12-20-0-111, Graff 4-8-1-30, Marks 1-1-0-8. Idaho, Wood 14-25-0-119. 

RECEIVING — UT, Olsen 5-45, Harrison 4-26, Thomason 2-45, Chatman 2-19, Street 2-10, Stone 1-3, Garrett 1-1. Idaho, Jezioro 5-50, Cortez-Menjivar 3-39, Harste 2-25, Cummings 2-2, McCraney 1-4, Thomas 1-(minus 1).