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Chad Chalich rushed for 114 yards and threw for 310 and a score, and freshman Austin Rehkow kicked four field goals to help Idaho hold off a late-game surge and give the Vandals their first win of the season, beating Temple 26-24 on Saturday.
''Our team played well today, especially the young guys.'' Idaho's first-year coach Paul Petrino said. ''Chad grew today as a quarterback. That kid is so tough. I love the way he plays.''
Chalich was the leading rusher for the Vandals (1-4). He had a 52-yard run.
Richard Montgomery added 102 yards receiving on five receptions and one touchdown.
''It is a great feeling, and a great team effort considering we are such a young team, but they all stepped up tonight,'' Chalich said.
Idaho had command of the game in the first half with a 17-3 lead, but the Owls (0-4) made it interesting with 21 second-half points.
''We played a good defensive game in first half, but we missed some big tackles in the second half,'' Petrino said. ''We came out and looked soft defensively to start the half. We can't do that. We need to keep pushing and get better.''
The Owls' rally included a Kenny Harper 5-yard run for a score in the third quarter and Connor Reilly's 51-yard pass to Ryan Alderman with 12:59 left in the fourth quarter to put the Owls to within 23-17.
With 3:23 left in the game, Temple put together a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard Harper touchdown run to bring the Owls within 26-24.
''We played much better in second half, with more continuity, but Idaho is a much better team than their record shows,'' first-year Temple coach Matt Rhule. ''I am proud of the way they kept fighting and never gave up.''
After Temple's final score, Idaho ran out most of the clock leaving the Owls offense only 10 seconds. A couple of Hail Mary passes were incomplete.
Reilly threw for 249 yards and one score for Temple. Harper had 11 carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich came up with 24 tackles for the Owls, a school record.
