POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — Jordan Cooke threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns, and Idaho State erupted for 28 points in the third quarter to defeat Virginia Military Institute 38-10 on Saturday at ICCU Dome.

Cooke, a 6-foot-4, 192-pound quarterback, completed 18 of 29 passes. His touchdown strikes covered 9 yards to Julian Mason, 49 yards to Chedon James, 83 yards to Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio and 38 yards to Eli Aragon. He also rushed for 2 yards on five carries.

Idaho State, which improved to 1-0, led only 10-0 at halftime before the game turned dramatically in the third quarter. The Bengals scored four touchdowns in the period, with the defense and special teams playing a major role.

The first came on the opening drive of the second half. After a touchback, Cooke found James deep down the right side for a 49-yard touchdown. Mason Lindberg’s extra point stretched the lead to 17-0.

VMI’s next possession ended with Jacob Perez blocking a punt. Noa Calaycay recovered the ball in the end zone and returned it 6 yards for a touchdown, giving Idaho State a 24-0 lead.

Another VMI punt followed, and Cooke then hit Anahu-Ambrosio on an 83-yard screen pass. The play began with a short completion at the Idaho State 32, and Anahu-Ambrosio raced untouched down the sideline for the score. Lindberg’s kick made it 31-0.

Later in the quarter, Trehsyn Fesili forced a fumble by VMI’s T. Simon at the VMI 38 and recovered it himself. On the next snap, Cooke threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Aragon, who made the catch in the end zone. The extra point gave Idaho State a 38-0 lead.

VMI, which fell to 0-1, scored its only points in the fourth quarter. Chandler Wilson ran 31 yards for a touchdown with 7:11 remaining, and J. Joyce added a 23-yard field goal with 1:57 left.

The Keydets struggled to sustain offense all night. Their first six possessions ended in punts, and they never advanced past their own 39 in the first half. VMI’s defense kept the game close early, but the third-quarter collapse proved decisive.

Idaho State’s receiving corps was dominant. Aragon finished with seven catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Mason had eight receptions for 77 yards and a score. James caught two passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, and Anahu-Ambrosio added two catches for 86 yards and a touchdown to go with a 4-yard rush.

Robert Freeman IV returned eight punts for 101 yards and also gained 10 yards on four carries. Jimmy Trilla caught a 20-yard pass, Tommy Poe had two receptions for 28 yards, and Adam Watts added one catch for 7 yards.

Idaho State’s defense was led by Nathan Reynolds, who recorded eight tackles and a quarterback hurry. Fesili finished with six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery. Bronson Childs, Collin Lewis and Troy Wilkey each totaled six tackles, while Jacob Perez added six tackles, a half-sack and the blocked punt. Dekker Hagler and Titan Saxton each had five tackles.

VMI’s defense had moments of resistance. Nic Land intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Elijah Wilborne picked off another in the fourth. Land and Robert Powell each made six tackles. Ashton Dixon contributed five, and Isaiah Grevious, Rod Tasco and Elijah Brooks each had four. Ayden Babich added three.

Quarterback J. Crump completed passes to T. Slaughter and Cade Cox during the game, and L. Boehling had a 12-yard run in the third quarter. H. Hardnett broke loose for a 47-yard run in the fourth quarter, setting up Wilson’s touchdown. N. Utsey rushed for positive gains but also fumbled in the second quarter, recovering his own miscue.

Idaho State’s backup quarterbacks saw action in the fourth quarter. Davis Harsin completed 5 of 10 passes for 41 yards and gained 15 yards on four rushes. Brett Spencer rushed twice for 7 yards. Carson Sudbury carried once for 5 yards.

The teams combined for 48 points, which went over the over/under line of 53.5. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Idaho State 33, Virginia Military Institute 26. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Idaho State with a 97.00 percent probability to win. VMI had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +34.5.