NCAA· Season 2026
Idaho State scored 28 third-quarter points to blow past VMI 38-10 as Jordan Cooke threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns in the season opener at the ICCU Dome.
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Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
VMI's defence held firm for much of the first half. After forcing a turnover on downs on the Keydets' opening drive, Idaho State marched into field-goal range, where Mason Lindberg knocked through a 38-yard kick for a 3-0 lead at the 11:09 mark of the first quarter. The teams traded punts for the remainder of the period and through most of the second.
With 1:29 before half-time, Cooke connected with Eli Aragon-Cruz on a 37-yard strike down the right sideline to the VMI five-yard line. One play later, Cooke found Julian Mason on a left slant from nine yards out to push the lead to 10-0 with 27 seconds left in the half.
Any hope of a VMI comeback evaporated in a devastating third quarter. Cooke hit Chedon James for a 49-yard touchdown just 1:38 into the half — a deep ball that slipped behind the VMI secondary and made it 17-0. On the ensuing VMI possession, Jacob Perez blocked a Keydet punt and Noa Calaycay scooped it at the six-yard line and ran in for a touchdown to make it 24-0 at the 11:06 mark.
Cooke then connected with Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio across the middle, and the receiver raced down the sideline for an 83-yard touchdown — the fifth-longest play from scrimmage in Idaho State history since 2000, per the programme. That stretched the lead to 31-0 with 6:34 left in the third. On the next Bengal drive, Cooke found Aragon-Cruz for a 38-yard touchdown strike, making it 38-0 at the 5:17 mark.
VMI finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Chandler Wilson scored on a 31-yard quarterback draw at the 7:11 mark. Jack Joyce added a 23-yard field goal with 1:57 remaining to complete the scoring.
The Turning Point
The blocked punt early in the third quarter turned a manageable 10-0 deficit into a 17-point hole and flipped momentum decisively. VMI's defence had held Idaho State to one touchdown and one field goal over the first 33 minutes, but the special-teams miscue opened the floodgates for four unanswered touchdown drives in less than 10 minutes.
Key Performers
Jordan Cooke, QB, Idaho State — The Bengal signal-caller finished 18-of-29 for 325 yards and four touchdowns with one interception, spreading the ball to four different receivers for scores. His 83-yard strike to Anahu-Ambrosio was the highlight of a near-flawless second half.
Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, WR, Idaho State — One catch, 83 yards, one touchdown. The long score was the Bengal's only reception of the afternoon but swung the game's momentum irrevocably.
Chandler Wilson, QB, VMI — Led the Keydets with 62 rushing yards on seven carries and scored VMI's only touchdown on a 31-yard run, showing the dual-threat capability that VMI's new option offence is built around.
Nic Land, S, VMI — The safety led all tacklers with six solo stops and added an interception in a first half that kept the Keydets within striking distance.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The final yardage totals (Idaho State 454, VMI 240) are starker than the game script through 30 minutes. VMI actually outgained the Bengals on the ground 229-88 and held the ball for nearly 35 minutes to ISU's 25, but managed only 11 passing yards on 5-of-9 through the air from three different quarterbacks. The 366-11 disparity in passing yardage tells the decisive story: Idaho State could strike deep at any moment, while VMI's option offence had no vertical threat to keep the defence honest. The Bengals averaged 7.1 yards per play to VMI's 3.9.
What It Means
Idaho State opens 1-0 for the first time since 2023 and travels to face FBS Utah State on 5 September. The Bengals' Big Sky Conference campaign begins later in the month.
VMI (0-1) begins the Ashley Ingram era with a loss but showed defensive resilience for a half against a Bengal side that received top-25 votes in the FCS preseason polls. The Keydets travel 90 miles south to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech on 5 September in a game broadcast on the ACC Network.
Verdict
Idaho State's deep passing game proved the difference between two programmes that took very different tactical approaches. Cooke's ability to stretch the field vertically is a weapon that will trouble Big Sky defences all season. VMI's option offence needs to develop any semblance of a passing threat to prevent teams from stacking the box, but Ingram's defensive game plan through one half showed promise for a programme in rebuild mode.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 30 Aug 2026