Tony Harste, Idaho’s wide receiver, has already lit up the scoreboard with 11 catches for a massive 203 yards and two touchdowns through just two games this season, giving the Vandals a much-needed jolt even after a brutal 0-2 start.
The Blueprint for a Comeback That’s Already Been Written
Yeah, I know, 0-2 is rough. The Vandals took a 66-14 beating from Utah, then got their hearts ripped out in a 38-34 loss to Cal Poly when the Mustangs scored with nine seconds left. But Coach Thomas Ford Jr. isn’t letting his team hang their heads. He pulled a wild card in a team meeting, showing them those exact scores, 59-13 and 30-24, were actually Montana State’s first two games last year. Remember those Bobcats? They got stomped by Oregon and lost in double-overtime to South Dakota State, but then didn’t lose another game, finishing 14-2 and becoming the 2025 Football Championship Subdivision champions. Harste echoed the coach’s message loud and clear, saying, “Hey, this has been done before.” He added, “A lot of times you feel like you have got to do what has never been done before. But it’s been done before.” Seriously, how can you not get hyped? The hope is definitely not gone for this team, and Harste is a huge part of that.
Harste’s Electric Performance is Turning Heads
This kid is balling out. Against Cal Poly, Harste went off for nine catches, 180 yards, and two touchdowns. The first one tied the game at 24-24 early in the fourth quarter. Then, Joshua Wood launched a 75-yard bomb to Harste, putting Idaho up 31-24! He just straight-up outran Mustangs cornerback SJ Gentle in single coverage on that play. What’s even crazier? He was running a clear out route for the slot receiver, not even the primary target! But Vandals receivers coach Tyler Paopao teaches that “on every route, you might get the ball,” and Harste clearly listened. This new offense under coordinator Ian Shoemaker is a “complicated mix of shifts and motions” too, with Vandals defensive players even saying it’s bewildering to play against. Harste isn’t the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy out there, at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but he hits different. He played in 10 games as a freshman in 2024, making 10 catches for 203 yards. Last year, as a sophomore, he was on fire, on pace to more than double that production with 12 catches, 143 yards, and a touchdown through five games before a season-ending hamstring injury at Montana. That injury was brutal, forcing him to watch the Vandals lose six of their final eight games. But it also taught him “a lot about not being selfish.” He learned, “I can’t change the fact I’m injured. But how can I help the team,” embracing the team-first philosophy that’s a core principle this year.
Now, the Vandals are ready for their home opener this Saturday in the Kibbie Dome against Lamar, who come in at 1-1. Harste expects to face “a lot of really athletic players” but he’s confident. He said, “we feel good about what we are seeing on film, and what we can do to attack on certain plays.” Get ready to see the Vandals fight for that first win, because with Harste leading the charge, anything feels possible.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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