­­­­­­­#3 Eastern Washington University "Eagles" versus #14 Cal Poly "Mustangs"  Saturday, Nov. 5 • 6:05 p.m. Pacific Alex G. Spanos Stadium (11,075) San Luis Obispo, Calif.
TV:	None
­­­Webcast:	http://goeags.com/sports/2016/1/5/watchbigsky.aspx?id=73 or http://watchbigsky.com
Radio:	700-AM ESPN in Spokane. Larry Weir returns for his 26th season calling the play-by-play, with analysis handled by Paul Sorensen. Broadcasts begin one hour prior to kickoff and include an expanded post-game show.
Internet Radio:	http://www.700espn.com or http://www.tunein.com.
Radio iPhone App:	Search for "700 ESPN" and download app. An app is also available for tunein radio.
Live Stats:	http://www.gopoly.com/sports/fball/2016-17/boxscores/20161105_it7h.xml
Weekly Coaches Show:	Mondays at 6 p.m. at the "Impulse Club" at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, with video highlights and commentary by head coach Beau Baldwin at 5:30 p.m. (no video or show on Nov. 14 and Nov. 21). . .  700-AM ESPN, http://www.700espn.com & via iphone app. (search for "Spokane Radio" and download app).
Watch Parties:	Consult EWU social media outlets for details the Friday before games. Those who may carry EWU games include "Epic" at Northern Quest Casino and Resort in Airway Heights, Borracho in downtown Spokane and the Swinging Doors in North Spokane.

It's the best versus the best in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
 
The top passing offense in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision takes on the top rushing offense in a battle of defenses when third-ranked Eastern Washington University plays at 14th-ranked Cal Poly in a key Big Sky Conference showdown this Saturday (Nov. 5) at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
 
Kickoff is 6:05 p.m. Pacific time in a game that isn't televised but is available via watchbigsky.com. Fans can also listen to the game on 700-AM ESPN and via the web at www.700espn.com, with pre-game coverage starting one hour prior to kickoff and the broadcasts featuring an expanded post-game show.
 
The Eagles lead the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in passing offense (437.5 yards per game) and are second total offense (555.3) and third in scoring (45.1). But the Mustangs counter with the top rushing offense, averaging 370.3 yards per game, and are also fourth in total offense (509.8) and 12th in scoring (38.0).
 
Thus, the key may be how well the defenses hold those dynamic offenses in check. Eastern is ranked 83rd in rushing defense (191.0) and 85th in scoring defense (31.4). Cal Poly, meanwhile, gives up 242.6 passing yards per game to rank 88th in FCS, and are allowing 30.9 points per game to rank 81st.
 
Both teams are coming off convincing victories, with the Eagles going on a 35-3 scoring run to beat Montana 35-16 at Roos Field on Oct. 29. Later that night, Cal Poly trailed in the second quarter 21-14 before going on a 24-0 run to take a 38-21 third-quarter advantage in their 59-47 victory. The Eagles had 381 yards through the air in their game while the Mustangs had 527 on the ground. Eastern is 7-1 overall with a six-game winning streak, and Cal Poly is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the league, just a game behind EWU at 5-0.
 
Individually, Eastern features the top quarterback and receiver in FCS – Gage Gubrud leads in passing yards (399.8) and points responsible for (26.8), and Cooper Kupp leads in receptions (9.6) and yards (143.7) per game. Cal Poly's Joe Protheroe is fourth in FCS in rushing (131.6), and Kori Garcia is 35th (84.1) with an average of 7.56 per carry to rank fifth in the nation. While Gubrud averages 48.4 yards on the ground to lead EWU, the Mustangs have three players who exceed that. One of them is quarterback Dano Graves, who averages 51.0 on the ground and 135.8 through the air, and has kept defenses honest with 15 touchdown passes.
 
Both have proven to be outstanding second half teams as well – Eastern has a 221-84 advantage in the second half and a 140-161 disadvantage in the first half, while Cal Poly has out-scored opponents 171-116 in the second half. In the third quarter alone, EWU has a 129-34 advantage and Cal Poly is at 70-42. Both teams suffered losses in overtime (EWU 50-44 at North Dakota State and Cal Poly 30-27 at Nevada to open the year). Cal Poly's other loss was a 31-24 loss at Big Sky unbeaten North Dakota (6-0, 7-2 overall).
 
"They are totally different than what we faced," said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin from going from a pass-happy Montana team to the option attack of the Mustangs. "It's a challenge and they are playing really well. Facing different offenses is tough, but what makes them difficult to defend is when they are executing at a high level and they have the type of players within their offense that fit their system. That tells you they have recruited well, have developed their players and they are extremely well coached."
 
Last year's meeting with Cal Poly was a thriller, won in overtime by the Eagles 42-41 on a windy day (more than usual) in Cheney. The seventh-ranked Eagles rallied from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to score 22 unanswered points in the final 5:11 of regulation, then Eastern's Nzuzi Webster recovered a Cal Poly fumble on a two-point conversion attempt in OT. The Mustangs had 503 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground on 89 carries, and Eastern had 145 of its 370 total yards on its final three possessions of the game, including drives of 85 and 55 yards to force overtime.
 
Following this week's game, the Eagles return to Roos Field for Senior Day on Nov. 12 against Idaho State. The Eagles then close the regular season Nov. 18 (Friday) at Portland State, which joined Montana as runner-up in the league last season and advanced to the playoffs. The league champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs, with pairings announced on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 8 a.m. Pacific time on ESPNU.
 
The Eagles are on a six-game winning streak, including a 2-1 record during the toughest preseason schedule in school history. The Eagles opened the year by beating Washington State of the Pacific-12 Conference (45-42), falling in overtime to top-ranked and five-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State (50-44) and beating 10th-ranked Northern Iowa (34-30). The Eagles then opened league play with a 50-35 victory against league favorite Northern Arizona.
 
Eastern remained third in this week's STATS FCS Top 25 poll, and is also third in the coaches poll. Sam Houston State is No. 1 in both polls, followed by Jacksonville State, EWU and five-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State in the No. 4 position. Cal Poly is ranked 14th by STATS and 16th by the coaches. In the Athlon Power Rankings, the Eagles remained No. 2, with season-long No. 1 North Dakota State retaining the top spot despite a loss to South Dakota State on Oct. 15. Cal Poly is 11th, North Dakota is 10th and Montana is 19th.
 
 
 

Records/Milestone Watch

 
Just 17 Catches from FCS Record, Kupp No Up to 12 FCS Records, 8 Big Sky Marks and 21 School Records
 
Eastern senior Cooper Kupp has now broken 12 FCS records, eight Big Sky Conference all-time marks and 21 school records. Next up is a big one.
 
Already the owner of FCS career records with 67 receiving touchdowns and 5,770 yards, he has 378 receptions and is now just 17 catches behind the record of 395 set by Elon's Terrell Hudgins from 2006-09. At his current season pace of 9.4 receptions per game, he'll break the record on Senior Day versus Idaho State on Nov. 12. He is just nine grabs away from the FBS record of 387.
 
He broke a 12th FCS all-time mark on Oct. 29 versus Montana when he caught a pass in his 46th-straight game. Jacksonville State's Josh Barge also has a current total of 46 in a row, and he and Kupp passed the record of 45 originally set by Marcus Lee of Towson (2005-08), then tied by current EWU wide receivers coach Nicholas Edwards (2009-12) and Tyrone Walker from Illinois State from (2009-12). Current Eagle Kendrick Bourne has a current 33-game streak, and other long streaks by former Eagles include Eric Kimble (44 from 2002-05), Aaron Boyce (42 from 2006-09) and Ashton Clark (36 from 2011-13). Boyce could have had a streak of 46, but he tore his Achilles in 2009 with four regular season games left to play.
 
Kupp and Bourne have also combined for FCS records for combined career catches (564) and combined career yards (8,514). In addition, Kupp's 125.4 average reception yards per game is currently a FCS career record, while his other six FCS records were set during his freshman season.
 
Kupp broke the school record for career all-purpose yards on Oct. 22 at Montana State – he now has 6,232 to break the previous record of 5,934 set by Eric Kimble from 2002-05. With Kupp now ranking seventh in Big Sky history, the league record is 7,112, and the top receiver on the list is Fred Amey from Sacramento State with 6,343 from 2001-04.
 
With a 12-catch, 274-yard performance against UC Davis on Oct. 1, Kupp broke the FCS record for career receiving yards. His current total of 5,770 broke the record of 5,250 set by Elon's Terrell Hudgins from 2006-09. Kupp's 274 yards were one away from the school record he set a year ago against Northern Colorado. His record-breaking performance earned him Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career (three on offense, one on special teams). In addition, Kupp earned honorable mention for STATS FCS National Player of the Week accolades.
 
Kupp broke the FCS record for career TD catches with a three touchdown day at Washington State on Sept. 3, breaking the previous FCS record of 58 set by New Hampshire's David Ball from 2003-06. Now with 67 in his career, Kupp equaled and then exceeded the FBS record as well against North Dakota State on Sept. 10. He had his 60th early in the second quarter to tie the mark of 60 set by Jarett Dillard of Rice from 2005-08, then had his 61st later in the quarter. Kupp is well behind the NCAA Division II record of 78 set by Dallas Mall of Bentley from 2001-04 and the NCAA Division III record is 75 set by Scott Pingel of Westminster (Mo.) from 1996-99, but Kupp has also exceeded the NAIA record of 59 set by Alvin Ashley of Southwest State (Minn.) from 1990-93.
 
Kupp has also already exceeded the FBS record for reception yards, which is 5,005 set by Trevor Insley of Nevada from 1996-99. He has also surpassed the NCAA Division II record (4,983, Clarence Coleman, Ferris State, 1998-01), but is well behind the all-time marks in Division III (6,108, Scott Pingel, Westminster, 1996-99) and the NAIA (6,177, Chris George, Glenville State, 1991-94).
 
For catches, the FBS record is 387 held by Justin Hardy of East Carolina from 2011-14. Interestingly, Taylor Stubblefield and Kupp both graduated from Davis High School in Yakima, Wash., and Stubblefield once held the FBS record with 316 catches for Purdue from 2001-04. Additionally, Kupp is behind records at NCAA Division II (386, Justin Bernard, St. Anselm, 2010-14), Division III (463, Michael Zweifel, Wisconsin-River Falls/Dubuque, 2007-11) and NAIA (430, Chris George, Glenville State, 1991-94).
 
 
Chasing Their Receivers Coach, Bourne & Hill Climb EWU Receiving Charts
 
With 186 career receptions for 2,744 yards and 23 touchdowns, senior Kendrick Bourne now ranks in the top nine in all three categories in school history. His touchdowns ranks ninth and his receptions are seventh, with his wide receivers coach Nicholas Edwards the next player to catch (215 from 2009-12). Bourne is now sixth in yards, moving past the total of 2,634 by Edwards against Montana on Oct. 29.
 
Teammate Shaq Hill has 145 career catches to rank 16th in school history, good for 2,355 yards (11th) and 25 touchdowns (eighth). He had a school-record four touchdown day against Northern Colorado on Oct. 8, and is one touchdown from ranking sixth in that category. He is two receptions from the No. 15 position (147, Dave Svendsen, 1966-68) and four from No. 14 (149, Jason Anderson, 1991-94). Hill is also 89 yards from ranking 10th (2,444, Tom Bassett, 1974-77).
 
In all, the quartet of Hill, Bourne, Cooper Kupp and Nic Sblendorio (32 games, 62 catches, 866 yards, 5 TD) have a combined 174 games worth of experience (99 starts) with 771 catches for 11,735 yards (15.2 per catch) and 120 touchdowns.
 
 
Shaq Hill Sets Career Kickoff Return Yardage Record
 
Wide receiver/kickoff returner Shaq Hill has broken the school record for career kickoff return yards, with a current total of 2,272 yards to pass the 2,176 of Craig Richardson from 1983-86. With 93 career returns, Hill previously broke Richardson's record of 80. Hill's average of 24.4 yards per return is currently eighth in school history, as he has had returns of 99, 93, 90 and 80 yards in his career (two of them for touchdowns). His 4,735 all-purpose yards are currently fifth in school history, and he needs only 56 to move into fourth (4,791, Jesse Chatman, 1999-01).
 
 
Ebukam Moves Into 12th in School History With 18 Sacks
 
Senior defensive end Samson Ebukam had a sack versus Montana on Oct. 29, giving him 18 in his career to rank 12th in school history. He also had a pair of sacks in EWU's season opener against Washington State and a half-sack against Northern Iowa. He needs one more to move his way into the top 10 on EWU's all-time lists. A 32-game starter as an Eagle, Ebukam has 153 tackles in his 47-game career. One of six Eagle co-captains for the 2016 season, he received second-team All-Big Sky honors in both 2014 and 2015.
 
Although he didn't get credit for any sacks, he certainly made it difficult on Montana State's offense in a 41-17 Eagle win on Oct. 22. He had four tackles, including one on a forced fumble that was recovered by the Eagles. He also had the pressure that led to sack by teammate Jay-Tee Tiuli in the second quarter. Eastern's defense surrendered 17 points in the first 16:03 of the game, but MSU didn't score again in the final 43:57. Eastern forced five turnovers and had none themselves – the 35th-straight game EWU has won when it has also won the turnover battle. The Eagles outgained MSU 421-152 in the final three quarters and had a 496-349 advantage in the game. It was the fewest points EWU has surrendered in its last 10 games, its fewest passing yards (98) in 13 games and its fewest yards overall (349) in the last 19.
 
 
 
Now With 322 Career Tackles, Zamora Just Two From No. 8 Position on Leaders List
 
Senior Miquiyah Zamora became the 10th Eagle in school history to have 300 tackles in his career, with a current total of 322 to rank ninth all-time at EWU. The next player for him to catch is Zach Johnson with 324 (2008, 2010-12), then Joey Cwik with 331 (2002-05) and Matt Johnson with 341 (2008-11). Zamora ranks 35th in FCS and fourth in the league with an average of 9.3 tackles per game, while teammate Zach Bruce has a 9.0 average to rank 42nd and sixth, respectively,
 
Zamora had the ninth double-figure performance of his career and fourth this season when he had four against Montana on Oct. 29. He had 14 tackles on Sept. 17 against Northern Iowa, and also had a sack, another tackle for loss, a pass broken up and a quarterback hurry to earn co-Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. He was the first Eagle honored with that award since Ronnie Hamlin earned the honor twice in 2012. Zamora's 14 tackles against UNI was his seventh career double-figures tackle performance, and was two from his career high. Seven of his tackles came in the second half when EWU held UNI to a pair of field goals, 96 total yards (only nine in the third quarter) and forced five three-and-outs (including one ending with a missed field goal). Zamora's pass broken up was in the third quarter on third down and led to a punt, and his sack was on third down and forced UNI to kick a field goal to give them a short-lived 30-28 lead. The Panthers converted only one of their last 11 third downs, as the Eagles held Northern Iowa to 353 total yards of offense. It was Eastern's best defensive performance since it limited Montana to 347 in a 37-20 win over the Grizzlies in the FCS Playoffs on Dec. 6, 2014. The Eagles allowed three touchdowns in the first half, but held the Panthers to just a pair of field goals in their final eight possessions of the game. Although UNI quarterback Aaron Bailey had 101 yards rushing, the Eagles held Panther running back Tyvis Smith – and All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection a year ago -- to 53 yards on 24 carries (2.2 per carry).
 
 
Career Average for Dascalo is Third Among the Top Punters in School History
 
In his second year as an Eagle, junior Jordan Dascalo has ow punted 54 times as an Eagle for a 41.3 career average which currently ranks third in school history. He also is 4-of-7 in his EWU career kicking field goals, and has averaged 59.0 yards (5,101 total yards) in 86 career kickoffs with 34 touchbacks.
 
Dascalo, who punted as a freshman in 2014 for Washington State, earned Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance against his former team on Sept. 3. He averaged 55.3 yards on three punts, including one downed inside the Cougar 20-yard line. He also kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play of the first half that started a decisive 17-0 scoring run by the Eagles in the 45-42 win. He also had seven kickoffs for a 57.0 average against WSU with one touchback. His 48-yarder equaled the 23rd-longest in school history and was the best in nearly seven years by an Eagle since Mike Jarrett booted a 49-yarder versus Idaho State on 10/3/09.  
 
"If I were to say there were five or six plays that were the biggest plays of the games, that field goal before halftime was one of the biggest plays of the game," said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. "For him to hit that was huge. He hit some good kickoffs and he had three good punts. He's become a player you can count on to do all three aspects of our kicking game – that's rare," Baldwin added. "You don't see many kickers/punters these days and it's usually more specialized. Granted, he's not our normal field goal kicker, but he has the strongest leg. So if we get outside a 40-yard field goal we start thinking about if this is Dascalo range."
 
 
 

Team Game Notes

 
Defense Holds Griz to 19 Points to Lower Big Sky Average to 25.8 Per Game
 
A year after allowing 57 points in a 41-point setback to Montana, the Eagle defense allowed just 16 in the rematch on Oct. 29 at Roos Field in EWU's 35-16 victory. The 16 points for the Griz was their lowest total in the last 33 games in the series dating back 32 years to a 14-14 tie in 1984. Four of Montana's seven possessions in the first half ended with an interception, a missed fourth-down conversion, a missed field goal and two punts. In the second half, Eastern had an interception and forced Montana to punt four times – including a pair of three-and-outs.
 
Eastern's defense has allowed just 25.8 points per game during its 5-0 Big Sky Conference start after allowing 40.7 against three challenging non-conference opponents. Eastern has out-scored opponents by an average of 21.8 points per game in five league games thus far (47.6 to 25.8).
 
 
Eastern is 22-11 (67 percent) Since 2010 Versus Ranked Opponents
 
The Eagles have now played 116 games against ranked teams in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision since becoming a member of that classification in 1983 (then known as I-AA). Eastern is 51-65 (.440) in those games, including a 17-41 mark (.293) versus top 10 foes. Since 2010, though, the Eagles are 22-11 overall (.667) and 8-6 (.571) versus top 10 teams. Thus far this year, EWU is 4-1, having lost to top-ranked North Dakota State by a 50-44 score in overtime.  Eastern defeated Northern Iowa, ranked 10th at the time, by a 34-30 score on Sept. 17, beat No. 25 Northern Arizona 50-35 on Sept. 24 and then defeated No. 16 Montana 35-16 on Oct. 29.
Overall, EWU has faced the No. 1 team in FCS nine times, winning twice (35-31 in 2004 over Southern Illinois in the FCS Playoffs and 30-21 in 2002 over Montana at Albi Stadium in Spokane, Wash.
 
 
Eagles Have Impressive 37-6 Big Sky Record Since 0-2 Start in 2011
 
The Eagles have won 37 of their last 43 Big Sky games since a 0-2 start in 2011. Eastern has won 27 of its last 31 league games, with the lone losses coming against Montana and Portland State in 2015 and Northern Arizona in both 2015 and 2014. An Oct. 25, 2014, loss at Northern Arizona snapped EWU's 14-game conference winning streak and a home loss against the Lumberjacks on Nov. 7, 2015, ended a streak of eight Big Sky wins in a row. Including non-conference victories (two versus MSU and one against Cal Poly) and a playoff win (Montana), the Eagles have won 31 of their last 35 versus conference foes, and are 41-6 since the 0-2 start in 2011. As a result, head coach Beau Baldwin has a 55-14 Big Sky record for a winning percentage of .797 to rank as the fifth-best in league history. His .721 winning percentage overall (80-31) is seventh all-time in the 53-year history of the Big Sky.
 
 
50th Season at Roos/Woodward Field Begins 4-0
 
The 50th season of football at EWU's current stadium location featured a come-from-behind 34-30 win against Northern Iowa, a 63-35 outburst against UC Davis, 49-31 triumph over Northern Colorado and a huge 35-16 victory over rival Montana. The Eagles close the regular season home schedule against Idaho State (Nov. 12) for Senior Day. Eastern has a current streak of 19 consecutive regular season sellouts and a total of 29 (crowds of 8,600 or more). The Montana game on Oct. 29 had a crowd of 11,931 to rank as the fifth-most in school history, with the top three coming versus the Griz (11,702 in 2010, 11,583 in 2006 and 11,339 in 2014).
 
The 2016 football season at Eastern Washington University marks the 50th season Eastern has played its football games at its current site in Cheney, Wash. But this is the seventh as "Roos Field," as a new red synthetic Sprinturf surface made its debut in 2010. Eastern finished a perfect 8-0 in its debut season at "The Inferno," including three playoff victories. Eastern is 38-7 overall (84 percent) since the red turf was installed in 2010 – including a 4-0 record versus rival Montana. Eastern has a 151-62 record (70.9 percent) in 213 games at Roos Field since 1967, with the Eagles utilizing Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane as the school's main home field from 1983-89.
 
 
Eastern Still Second in Total Offense and Maintains Lead in Passing Offense
 
Eastern ranks second in FCS in total offense with an average of 555.3 yards per game, trailing only Sam Houston State at 592.0 per outing. After seven games, Eastern is the FCS leader in passing offense (437.5 yards per game), third in scoring offense (45.1), fifth in third down conversions (50.9 percent), second in completion percentage (.696) and fifth in passing efficiency (175.60). Eastern's school records for a single season for total offense is 533.5 set in 2013 when EWU finished with a total of 8,002, and the record for passing offense is 368.4 set in 2011.
 
 
With Streak of 251 Pass Attempts Without an Interception Ended versus Montana, Eagles Rank 18th in FCS in TO Margin
 
The Eagles are ranked 18th this week in FCS in turnover margin, with an average of +.88 per game (17 total takeaways and only 10 giveaways). The Eagles had a streak of 251 passes without an interception snapped versus Montana on Oct. 29, a streak that went back to a third-quarter interception versus Northern Iowa on Sept. 17. Sophomore Gage Gubrud had his personal string of passes without an interception snapped at 222 when the Grizzlies tipped and intercepted a pass in the third quarter. He had a second interception in the fourth period. The Big Sky record is 342, and Eastern's Matt Nichols stretches of 151 and 267 (school record) without a pick as a senior in 2009 when he had only six interceptions in 458 total attempts.
 
 
Eastern Now 35-0 Since 2010 When Winning the Turnover Battle
 
After going six games without winning the turnover battle, Eastern had turnover advantages in back-to-back outings in wins over Northern Arizona and UC Davis, then had a 5-0 advantage at Montana State on Oct. 22. In the win over the Bobcats, EWU had a fumble forced by senior Samson Ebukam and fumble recoveries by senior J.J. Njoku and junior D'londo Tucker. Eastern also had an interception by senior safety Zach Bruce – his third of the season and fifth of his career, and picks in the fourth quarter by Victor Gamboa and Jake Hoffman. Eastern won the battle against UC Davis 3-1, including a fumble forced by Gamboa and recovered by Ebukam, and interceptions by D'londo Tucker and Mitch Fettig. Tucker, making his first start of the season, returned his 27 yards for a touchdown. One game earlier, EWU won the turnover battle 3-0 versus a Northern Arizona team which had just one fumble lost and no interceptions through three games this season. Eastern had a trio of interceptions by Bruce, Tucker and Nzuzi Webster in winning its first turnover battle since winning 1-0 in a 14-13 win over Weber State on Oct. 31, 2015. The Eagles lost the turnover battle 3-1 to North Dakota State and 2-1 to UNI after tying 1-1 versus Washington State. Eastern tied Northern Colorado 1-1 on Oct. 8 and tied Montana 2-2 on Oct. 29.
 
In eight-plus seasons (­2008-present) under head coach Beau Baldwin, the Eagles are 44-1 when they've won the turnover battle, 20-5 when they've been tied and 16-25 when they've lost (total of 80-31). The last time EWU lost when it won the turnover battle came in the 2009 FCS Playoffs at Stephen F. Austin when EWU had two miscues and forced four in the 44-33 loss. Thus, EWU is 35-0 since 2010 when they've won the turnover battle, 17-4 when they've been tied and 14-18 when they've lost. That's a collective record of 66-22 (75 percent), with 18 of those 22 losses (82 percent) coming in games EWU has lost the turnover battle and 54 percent of EWU's wins coming when they've won the turnover battle (79 percent when including ties).
 
 
Eagles Have 129-34 Advantage in Third Quarter and 221-84 in Second Half
 
Despite trailing at halftime in five of eight games this season, a big part of EWU's 7-1 record is the team's third-quarter production, having outscored opponents 129-34 in that period. The only leads EWU has had at halftime were by the slimmest of margins – 21-10 versus Montana, 24-17 against MSU and 22-21 at Northern Arizona when the Eagles kicked a 44-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the second quarter. Eastern has had a third quarter advantage in every game, including 14-0 versus Washington State, 10-7 against North Dakota State, 14-0 versus Northern Iowa, 14-7 against Northern Arizona, 35-7 against UC Davis, 21-7 versus Northern Colorado, 7-0 versus Montana State and 14-6 in EWU's last outing against Montana. Eastern has had a fourth quarter advantage in six of its last seven games (with one 0-0 tie), and owns a 92-50 advantage for the season. Eastern has a 221-84 advantage in the second half, but a 140-161 disadvantage in the first half (57-66 in first quarter, 83-95 in second). Its second quarter woes were punctuated by a 23-0 advantage for UC Davis on Oct. 1. Eastern's only loss this season was a six-point setback in overtime at North Dakota State, which scored a touchdown after EWU went scoreless on its first possession of OT. EWU missed a 49-yard field goal at the end of regulation that would have won it.
 
 
Eagles Record 52nd 50-Point Performance, With 13 Since 2012
 
The Eagles hit the 50-point mark for the 52nd time in school history when they beat UC Davis 63-30 on Oct. 1 – equaling EWU's best against a member of FCS and in a Big Sky game, and ranking eighth overall in 108 seasons of football at Eastern. Eastern also hit that mark versus Northern Arizona one game earlier in a 50-35 win on Sept. 24, coming a year after their last (55-50 win over Montana State on 9/19/15). Eastern has had 13 50-point games in the last five seasons (including 2016), with one in 2015, six in 2014 and two each in 2013 and 2012. Eastern is now 49-3 in the 52 games they have scored at least 50 in school history. The lone losses were to Washington (59-52 in 2014), Idaho State (55-52 in 2003 in double overtime) and Weber State (63-59 in 1991, which at the time was the highest-scoring game in FCS/I-AA history). Eastern has a program high of four 50+ scoring games versus MSU, including meetings in 2004, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Eastern has scored 50 or more against Weber State and Idaho State on three occasions.
 
 
After Rally Versus UNI, Eagles Have Now Won 17 Games Since 2010 When Trailing or Tied in the Final Quarter
 
Eastern has now won 17 games since 2010 when trailing or tied in the fourth quarter, including one this season, two in the 2015 season and six during EWU's national championship season in 2010. Facing deficits of 24-7 at halftime and 24-21 entering the final quarter, Eastern rallied for a 34-30 win over Northern Iowa on Sept. 17. After a 21-0 scoring run overcame the deficit and gave Eastern the lead early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles actually trailed 30-28 with 4:13 left. But the Eagles rallied behind the relief quarterbacking of Reilly Hennessey, and his 23-yard touchdown pass to Beau Byus with 43 seconds remaining capped an 11-play, 75 yard drive. That TD came on a fake when EWU elected against a 40-yard field goal attempt against the wind. Hennessey was 8-of-10 for 82 yards on the drive (there was one rush for two and two penalties against EWU for 10 yards). It was the first catch in the career for Byus, a fourth-string sophomore tight end and emergency offensive tackle who graduated in 2014 from nearby Central Valley High School in Spokane.
 
 
 

Player Game Notes

 
Big Sky Player of the Week Cooper Kupp Terrorizes Grizzlies Again in 35-16 Victory to Go Over 1,000 Yards Receiving for Fourth Time
 
His numbers are eye-popping, but the numbers that mean most to senior Cooper Kupp are 5-1 and 10-1.
 
Those are the win-loss records for Eastern Washington University's football team over Montana and collectively against UM and Montana State since he arrived on campus in 2012. With three touchdowns receiving and a 54-yard pass to set-up another score, he helped guide Eastern to a 35-16 victory over the Griz last Saturday (Oct. 29) to earn Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors from the league office as well as College Sports Madness.
 
In five games versus the Montana Grizzlies, Kupp has had 50 touches against the Griz, resulting in an average of 16.8 yards, eight touchdowns and one 54-yard play down to the Montana 2-yard line. And best of all, five victories in six games versus Montana since his redshirt season in 2012.
 
The reigning FCS Offensive Player of the Year had more than 100 yards receiving for the 28th time in his 46-game Eastern career, finishing with eight for 140. Besides his 69-yard touchdown, he also had TD receptions of 5 and 40 yards, giving him 33 plays of at least 40 yards in his career. He has scored in 38 of 46 games in his career, and has averaged a touchdown every 5.6 catches as an Eagle.
 
"His biggest attribute is his consistency, and that he continues to find ways to produce when everybody's eyes are on him," said head coach Beau Baldwin. "But he'll be the first to tell you it's easy to be get open and find success when he's playing around a lot of other great players. Whenever that moment is there, he makes a play. That's why he has such huge numbers over the years – he doesn't miss an opportunity. And the reason he doesn't miss those opportunities is that he prepares to such a level that when an opportunity presents itself, he gets it done time after time after time. Plus, he has the guts and the toughness not to be worried about any moment – he just goes out and gets it done."
 
He now has career totals of 45 catches for 660 yards and six touchdowns in five games against the Griz, as well as a punt return for a TD and a passing score. He is 2-of-2 passing versus the Griz, including a 54-yard pass to sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud that set-up a score in the 2016 meeting and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne in 2015. He has had three punt returns for 103 yards and an average of 34.3 yards per return. Thus, his total on 50 touches against UM is 838 yards for an average of 16.8 per touch.
 
His performance against Montana earned him Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors from College Football Madness. He went over the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth time in his career, with only 13 other performances with at least that amount in school history. Kupp has 1,006 yards and 67 catches for the season in just seven games played, already ranking 17th and 15th, respectively, in school history.
 
 
Now on STATS Watch List, Gage Gubrud Remains NCAA Statistical Leader in Passing and Total Offense
 
Bidding to lead FCS in passing offense for the second-straight year, Eastern has been led by sophomore Gage Gubrud in his first year as a starter. The 2014 graduate of McMinnville (Ore.) High School has passed for 3,198 yards, 31 touchdowns and a .693 completion percentage, and has also rushed for a team-leading 387 yards (4.6 per carry) and four more scores. As a result, on Oct. 4 he was named to the mid-season "Watch List" for the STATS NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Offensive Player of the Year Award, joining Eagle senior wide receiver and last year's recipient of the award, Cooper Kupp. Gubrud was one of four players added to the 22 players already on the watch list.
 
As a result, Gubrud is the FCS leader in total offense at 448.1 per game, passing yards (3,198), passing yards per game (399.8), points responsible per game (26.8) and total points responsible for (212), and is second in passing touchdowns (34), fourth in passing efficiency (175.0) and fourth in completion percentage (.693). He is already among EWU's season leaders for passing yards (12th), touchdown passes (seventh) and total offensive yards (eighth with 3,585), and is well ahead of season records for average yards passing (364.5) and total offense (376.8) per game.
 
Teammate Cooper Kupp missed 1 1/2 games with a shoulder injury, but leads in receiving yards per game (143.7) and receptions per game (9.6), and is third in receiving touchdowns (11). Senior Kendrick Bourne is 15th in receptions per game (6.8) and 14th in receiving yards per game (101.9), while senior Shaq Hill is 39th in average receptions (5.5), 27th in average yards (86.8) and fifth in receiving touchdowns with 10. That trio is 1-2-4 in the Big Sky in both receiving yards and receptions per game, and 1-2-17 in touchdown receptions (Bourne has three).
 
 
 
Gubrud a Multiple Recipient of National Player of the Week Honors
 
Sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud has just eight career starts (7-1 record), but he already owns six of the top 11 single game total offense performances in school history and five of the top 18 passing performances. In addition, had an impressive string of 222 passes without an interception, going four full games from Sept. 24 to Oct. 22 without a pick.
 
Gubrud was given two more awards on Oct. 24, earning the prestigious STATS National FCS Offensive Player of the Week Award as well as Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week from the league office. One day earlier, Gubrud was the College Sports Madness FCS Offensive Player of the Week and its BSC Offensive Player of the Week after passing for a school-record 520 yards in a 41-17 win at Montana State on Oct. 22. He also earned FCS Performer of the Week honorable mention accolades from College Football Performance Awards.
 
Gubrud completed 37-of-51 passes, and broke the previous school record of 491 set by teammate Jordan West in 2015 versus Sacramento State. Gubrud had touchdown passes to four different receivers versus MSU, and his 538 yards of total offense were second only to the school-record 551 he had in the first start of his career in a 45-42 victory at Washington State.
 
The MSU game was Gubrud's second game to receive national honors, having earned College Football Performance Awards FCS National Performer of the Week for his performance against Washington State. He also received honorable mention recognition after both the UC Davis and Northern Colorado games in early October. In addition, he's been honored as Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times by the league office, and twice by College Sports Madness.
 
 
 
Roldan Alcobendas Wins Big Sky Player of the Week Award After Performance at Montana State
 
Returning to the venue he suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2014, junior Roldan Alcobendas made field goals of 48 and 31 yards and had a career-high 11 total points in EWU's 41-17 victory over Montana State to earn Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
 
His 48-yarder was the best of his career, and equals the 23rd-longest in school history. He also had a 31-yarder blocked and made all five of his extra point attempts to account for 11 of EWU's points. In addition, he averaged 64.0 yards in three kickoffs, including one touchback.
 
"It was huge and into a little breeze too," Eagle head coach Beau Baldwin said of the key 48-yarder that came with no time remaining in the second quarter after a 49-yard drive to give Eastern a 24-17 halftime advantage. That was a big kick, and a big drive altogether. It's important to get that halftime momentum – especially when you get the ball back to start the second half – because a lot of games are won or lost during the first few minutes of the first half and coming out in the third quarter."
 
Alcobendas is a 2013 graduate of Camas (Wash.) High School, and had to sit out both the 2013 and 2015 seasons because of knee injuries. This year, he is 6-of-10 kicking field goals and has made 43-of-44 extra points. He has also averaged 57.9 yards on 20 kickoffs with six touchbacks. In his 11-game career, Alcobendas has made 7-of-11 field goals and 65-of-68 extra points.
 
 
Hill Honored for Record-Breaking Day Against Northern Colorado
 
In a perfect "pick your poison" scenario, senior Shaq Hill had the second-best game of his 47-game career against Northern Colorado on Oct. 8 with seven catches for 153 yards and four touchdowns, tying a school record in the process. He also rushed four times for 41 yards, finishing with 194 all-purpose yards to earn Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors from College Sports Madness.
 
Hill tied the record of four touchdowns originally set by Jamie Buenzli in 1987 against Nevada and equaled by Joe Pierce in 2003 versus Central Washington. Cooper Kupp, the reigning FCS Offensive Player of the Year, had only 59 yards on five receptions, and rushed three times for 13 yards, a year after having school records with 20 catches for 275 yards versus the Bears.
 
Hill injured his knee in EWU's 2015 opener versus Oregon and missed the rest of the season after two surgeries. Thus far this year he has 44 catches for 694 yards and 10 touchdowns, which are the fifth-most in FCS. He had career highs of 278 yards of all-purpose yards and 172 yards receiving (on four catches) versus Montana State on Oct. 26, 2013, when he scored on passes of 17, 68 and 76 yards versus the Bobcats.
 
 
Antoine Custer Jr. Honored Again After Another Big Return, Helping EWU Now Rank Fourth Nationally
 
True freshman Antoine Custer Jr. is proof that lightning can strike twice in the same spot, and he has two Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors to show for it.
 
Just like he did against Northern Iowa on Sept. 17 when he had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half against Northern Iowa, Custer provided a third quarter spark for the Eagles in EWU's 63-30 win over UC Davis on Oct. 1. He opened the third quarter with a 55-yard return this time, leading to a short touchdown drive as part of EWU's 35-point onslaught in that period. The resulting TD pulled EWU within 23-21, and the lead quickly changed hands twice before the Eagles scored the final 35 points of the game.
 
His 55-yarder was just his second return as an Eagle, and then he followed that with a 16-yard return versus the Aggies. He now has a 45.5 average on four returns. Teammate Nsimba Webster had an earlier 65-yard return against UC Davis, but broke his clavicle in the process. Senior Shaq Hill, who was a freshman All-American as a returner, had a 43-yarder against Montana on Oct. 29. Webster has a 29.8 average per return, and EWU's 25.7 average as a team ranks first in the Big Sky and fourth nationally.
 
"That whole unit has been fantastic," said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. "Coach Kiel McDonald works with that group and has done an amazing job of getting them in the right positions for success. He makes a great plan and makes sure everybody is dialed – that's what it takes."
 
Trailing Northern Iowa by 17 at halftime on Sept. 17, Custer's TD in EWU's come-from-behind 34-30 win over Northern Iowa helped earn him his first Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honor. His TD return was the first by an Eagle since Hill had a 90-yarder against Portland State on Nov. 21, 2014. Hill, EWU's all-time leader in kickoff returns and yards, actually provided three blocks down the sideline during Custer's TD return.
 
Custer has started at running back in three games, including Eastern's opener against Washington State, and scored the first touchdown of the season for the Eagles on a pass from Gage Gubrud. So far this season he has rushed 41 times for a net of 84 yards and three touchdowns, and has caught 16 passes for 98 yards and a score. He missed the Northern Colorado game on Oct. 8 with a concussion.
 
"Antoine has stepped in and done well as a freshman," added Baldwin. "He's a mature young man, and for being a freshman he is well above his years in terms of physical and mental toughness. He's not afraid of those big moments and he's come up with some huge ones for us right after halftime. It's been impressive."
 
In the last 20+ seasons (1996-2016), Eastern has returned 36 total kicks for touchdowns while allowing just 17. Until North Dakota State had one in the FCS Playoffs in 2010, Eastern had not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown in more than 10 years (599 total returns).
 
 
Bruce Has Interceptions in Games Versus UNC, NAU and MSU
 
Senior safety Zach Bruce has had interceptions in three of his last four games, including a third-quarter interception in EWU's 41-17 win and second-half shutout over Montana State on Oct. 22. He also had a fourth-quarter pick against Northern Colorado on Oct. 8 that helped preserve EWU's 49-31 victory. He had seven tackles against the Bears, including a forced fumble that UNC was able to recover just three plays prior to his interception.
 
He is currently 32nd in FCS and third in the Big Sky with an average of 0.4 interceptions per game. He is also sixth in the league and 42nd nationally with an average of 9.0 tackles per game (team-leading 72 total). A former walk-on, Bruce now has 184 tackles, five interceptions and six passes broken up in his 44-game career (18 as a starter). He had 13 tackles – his fourth double-figure performance of his career and third this season – against Montana on Oct. 29.
 
He had a key first-half interception he returned 50 yards to get the Eagle defense on track for another impressive day in a 50-35 win at Northern Arizona. He finished with a team-high 14 tackles, equaling his career high in the process. His interception -- Northern Arizona's first of the season – came on a fourth down play from the EWU 1-yard line. He returned his third career interception 50 yards to midfield, and the Eagles followed with a 50-yard drive to take a 19-7 lead. Eastern's defense allowed 491 total yards, but registered a trio of three-and-outs and intercepted three passes against one of the top offenses in FCS. One week earlier, the Eagle defense had six total three-and-outs (one on a missed field goal attempt) and allowed Northern Iowa to convert just one of its last 11 third down conversion attempts in a 34-30 Eagle win. The Eagles held NAU to 6-of-17 on third down, a year after the Lumberjacks converted 13-of-19 in a 52-30 triumph over EWU.
 
 
Kupp Adds National Player of the Week Accolades from STATS to Heisman Candidate Recognition by Fox Sports
 
With a record-breaking performance and stirring victory over Washington State in his first game since deciding to return to Eastern Washington University for his senior football season, Cooper Kupp was selected as the STATS National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5. He earned the same honor from College Sports Madness, which also selected him as its Big Sky Conference player of the week as well.
 
Judging from the damage he's inflicted on Pacific-12 Conference defenses in four seasons now, it's no secret that the senior wide receiver is among the best receivers in college football at any level. In a column by Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports on Sept. 4, Kupp was regarded as one of five Heisman candidates after the first full week of the college football season. He joined Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, Houston quarterback Greg Ward, Stanford running back/returner Christian McCaffrey and Georgia running back Nick Chubb on his list.
 
Even Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin is at a loss for words over the accomplishments of Kupp, who has been dubbed by the media as All-Galaxy and Superman. "Twelve catches, 206, three touchdowns versus a Pac-12 team – Cooper Kupp, that's what he did. Enough said."
 
All Kupp has done to warrant the success is score 11 touchdowns receiving in four games versus the Pac-12 on a total of 40 catches for 716 yards. That's an average of 17.9 yards per catch and a TD every 3.6 grabs against the four Pac-12 schools in the Pacific Northwest – Washington State, Washington, Oregon and Oregon State.
 
In EWU's 45-42 win over WSU on Sept. 3, Kupp had 12 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns, as the three-time All-America receiver broke the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision record, finishing the game with 59. He also completed a pass for 22 yards against the Cougars, and rushed twice for 29 yards.
 
"Today, the best player on the field was Cooper Kupp," said Washington State head coach Mike Leach, whose team had nine victories and won a bowl game in 2015.

Last season, Kupp set Autzen Stadium records of 15 catches for 246 yards against Oregon, including three TD grabs. The year before that he caught eight passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns against Washington -- the former team his grandfather, Jake Kupp, played for before becoming a Hall of Fame offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, in his first collegiate game, Kupp caught five passes for 119 yards and two scores against OSU. The Eagles upset the 25th-ranked Beavers 49-46, becoming just the fourth FCS team to beat a ranked squad from the NCAA Football Bowl Championship Subdivision.
 
 
Gage Gubrud Also Honored Nationally and as Big Sky Player of the Week After Sensational Starting Debut
 
It takes a heady player to knock Vernon Adams Jr. out of the Eastern Washington University football record book. And in his first start to boot.
 
Sophomore Gage Gubrud was selected as the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 after accounting for six touchdowns in a 45-42 victory Sept. 3 over Washington State of the Pacific-12 Conference. On Sept. 6, he received honors from College Football Performance Awards as its FCS National Performer of the Week.
 
Gubrud (pronounced "Goo-Brood") was one of six Eagles – five on offense – making the first starts of their careers, and he completed 34-of-40 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 77 yards and another score. His 551 yards of total offense broke the previous school record of 518 set by Vernon Adams Jr. against Oregon State in 2013 when he passed for 411 and rushed for 107.
 
Gubrud's passing total at the time was the fourth-best in school history, ranking only behind Adams (475 vs. Washington on 9/6/14), Todd Bernett (486 versus Montana on 9/17/94) and teammate Jordan West (school-record 491 versus Sacramento State on 9/26/15). Gubrud had a passing efficiency rating in the game of 220.79, with West owning that record of 313.5 versus Montana State on 9/19/15 when he was 21-of-24 for 410 yards and six touchdowns.
 
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Gubrud held for kicks all season, then made his Eagle debut as a quarterback at Montana (11/14/15). He completed 7-of-13 passes for 66 yards and an interception, and also had 18 net rushing yards and a touchdown. He was also called on as EWU's rugby-style punter during the year.
 
 
Bruce, Ebukam, Wimberly and Hill Join Kupp and Zamora as co-Captains
 
Six players are serving as co-captains for the 2016 season, including a pair of returning captains in wide receiver Cooper Kupp and linebacker Miquiyah Zamora. The four new captains are safety Zach Bruce, defensive end Samson Ebukam, tight end Zach Wimberly and wide receiver Shaq Hill. Four of Eastern's six co-captains are from the state of Washington, including Bruce, a strong safety out of Spokane's University High School. Wimberly is from Tumwater High School, Kupp is from Davis High School in Yakima and Zamora is a graduate of Chiawana High School in Pasco. All four graduated in 2012. Ebukam is from Portland, Ore., and graduated in 2013 from David Douglas High School. Hill, who redshirted in 2015 because of a knee injury, is a 2011 graduate of Brookside Christian High School in Stockton, Calif. All six of the team's co-captains have previously earned All-Big Sky Conference accolades, including four for Kupp and three for Hill. Ebukam has been honored twice, and Zamora, Bruce and Wimberly have been honored once each. That sextet has also combined for eight Big Sky All-Academic honors, with Kupp earning Academic All-America accolades each of the last two seasons.
 
 
 Incoming Freshman Class for Eagles Includes Running Back Duo Seeing Significant Action
 
A pair of running backs from Eastern's talented recruiting class played in the opener against Washington State on Sept. 3 when Antoine Custer Jr. and Tamarick Pierce received carries at running back. Custer started and had the first EWU touchdown of the season on a 14-yard reception, and rushed once for no gain. Pierce did not get a carry, but carried four times for 18 yards the next week at North Dakota State. Custer was a California two-time All-State selection out of powerhouse De La Salle High School, and Pierce was an All-State selection from Oakland, Calif., and Saint Mary's High School. Custer rushed for 4,429 yards (103.0 per game and 10.3 per carry) and scored 66 total touchdowns while helping his team compile a 41-2 record in three seasons, with a pair of state titles and a runner-up finish. He finished with 5,965 all-purpose yards in his career, and scored 53 touchdowns rushing, four receiving and nine on returns and recoveries. Pierce rushed for 3,342 yards (8.8 per carry) in his career with 35 rushing touchdowns, caught 44 passes for 424 yards and eight more scores, and scored 47 total TDs in three seasons.
 
Offensive lineman D.J. Dyer made his Eagle debut against Northern Arizona on Sept. 24 when injuries to Eagle offensive linemen forced him to burn his redshirt. The other 15 true freshman on the roster are pegged for redshirts and duty on scout teams, including highly-touted quarterback Eric Barriere from La Habra (Calif.) High School. He accounted for 130 career touchdowns with 9,304 passing yards and 1,718 rushing yards in high school, and led the Highlanders to a collective 30-8 record and a perfect league record in three championship seasons.
 
 
 

More Cooper Kupp Notes

 
Cooper Kupp Continues to Collect Accolades as One to "Watch"
 
Not surprisingly, Cooper Kupp's name found its way onto every NCAA Football Championship Subdivision preseason honor that exists. Further establishing himself as one of the most dominant players of all-time in the FCS, the senior wide receiver was one of 25 players named Aug. 3 to the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List. Kupp had an incredible junior season with the Eagles to win that honor in a close outcome with a pair of running backs. Three other offensive players from the Big Sky Conference made this year's watch list, including Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus and Lumberjack wide receiver Emmanuel Butler. North Dakota's John Santiago also made the squad.
 
* In 2016, Kupp could be the first wide receiver and just the fourth player overall in what will be the 54-year history of the Big Sky Conference to earn first team All-Big Sky honors four seasons. The others are Weber State's Trevyn Smith (RB 2006-09), Weber State's Scott Shields (Kicker 1995-97, Punter 1996, Strong Safety 1998) and Charvez Foger (RB 1985-88).
 
* In 2015, Kupp became only the second wide receiver in 42 years to capture the Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP Award, and continued a long legacy of Eagles to win the award. Eastern players have now won the honor 11 times in the last 15 seasons, and 12 times overall.
 
* Kupp capped his 2015 season by being selected as the FCS Offensive Player of the Year by both STATS and the FCS Athletic Director's Association, and he was also presented the 2015 Walter Payton Award as selected by Mickey Charles LLC.  Kupp became only the second wide receiver in 42 years to win the Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP Award, and only the second receiver to ever win the Payton Award.
 
* Kupp was selected as Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters (SWABS), continuing the tradition established since the Eastern Washington University football program won a national championship in 2010. In being honored by SWABS, Kupp won an award that has been selected since 1948, but won by only six Eastern athletes in the last 68 years. Four of them have come since 2010, and a total of 12 SWABS honors have been garnered by the Eagles in the last six seasons.
 
* He caught a league-record 114 passes in 2015, and announced on Nov. 30, 2015, his intention to return for his senior year rather than pursue professional opportunities a year early.
 
* But the numbers don't tell the whole story about the amazing abilities of the 2012 graduate of Davis High School in Yakima, Wash. He'll be the first to say that what he has already accomplished doesn't mean anything heading into the 2016 season in which he is picked to repeat as the best player in FCS. "You have to prove it, and I'll try to do the best I can day-in and day-out," said Kupp. "More importantly, as a team we want to win the league championship and compete for the national championship. I want to contribute to that."
 
* His average of 10.4 catches per game in 2015 was also a Big Sky record (sixth all-time in FCS), to go along with five career marks he set in just three seasons – all ending with first team All-Big Sky accolades. Kupp even passed for a pair of touchdowns in the 2015 season and had another via punt return. Including his 2016 totals, he has scored 69 total touchdowns and has accounted for 71 in his 46-game career (all as a starter).
 
* His career catches, yards and TDs are all Big Sky records, and he also established a new league record for average catches per game (8.22), which also ranks second in FCS history. Kupp has averaged a TD reception for every 5.6 catches so far in his career. He has scored at least once in 38 of 46 games he has played, with 27 performances of at least eight catches (13 with 10 or more) and 28 with at least 100 receiving yards.
 
* In June 2012, he concluded his fourth year working at the Manning Passing Academy as a college counselor/coach. While in high school he previously attended the camp, which is run by Archie Manning, the father of NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning. Archie is a former New Orleans Saints teammate of Cooper's grandfather, Jake Kupp.
 
* Kupp has helped Eastern win 36 games overall and 25 in the Big Sky Conference in the past three-plus seasons, with two outright Big Sky Conference championships and NCAA Football Championship Playoff berths his freshman and sophomore seasons. Eastern had a six-game winning streak in 2015, but finished the year with a three-game losing streak and final records of 6-5 and 5-3.
 
* Kupp's younger brother, Ketner, is a sophomore linebacker for the Eagles this year. Ketner played in all 11 Eastern games as a true freshman in 2015, finishing with 19 tackles and an interception. He made his starting debut against top-ranked and five-time defending champion North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2016, and finished with eight tackles.
 
 
 

Series Notes

* Eastern is 6-2 overall with the home team winning six of the eight games. The Eagles are 4-0 against Cal Poly all-time at Roos Field and 2-2 in San Luis Obispo. Eastern beat the Mustangs 61-7 in the first-ever NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (then known as I-AA) game for Cal Poly to open the 1994 season. That game was also the head coaching debut of former Eagle Mike Kramer, who is now head coach at Idaho State. Eastern was blasted 52-35 in San Luis Obispo to end the 1995 season, but two years later the Eagles finished 12-2 and advanced to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs. Eastern defeated the Mustangs in Cheney by a 38-21 score in 2004, when Cal Poly entered the game ranked 11th nationally and EWU was 21st. The Eagles eventually received an at-large playoff berth in 2004 while the Mustangs stayed home with a 9-2 mark. Eastern lost at Cal Poly 40-35 in 2005 in a game matching the 11th-ranked Eagles and the 18th-ranked Mustangs. In 2011, the Eagles scored on four consecutive plays (two touchdowns and two conversions) in the second and third overtimes as the Eagles prevailed 53-51 in San Luis Obispo. The 2012 game was also a match-up of nationally-ranked teams, with No. 7 Eastern prevailing 34-17 over the 16th-ranked Mustangs. In last year's meeting, won 42-41 by seventh-ranked Eagles, Eastern had to rally from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
 
Looking Back
The seventh-ranked Eagles rallied from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to score 22 unanswered points in the final 5:11 of regulation and in overtime to top Cal Poly and the top rushing offense in the nation 42-41 in a Big Sky Conference showdown Oct. 10, 2015, in Cheney, Wash. Eastern scored on its first play of overtime and kicked an extra point, then the Mustangs scored. But Eastern's Nzuzi Webster recovered a Cal Poly fumble on the two-point conversion attempt, putting a sour note on a huge day for the Mustangs that included 503 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground on 89 carries. Although out-gained 519-370 in total offense in the game, Eastern had 145 of its yards on its final three possessions of the game, including drives of 85 and 55 yards to force overtime. Despite sustained winds of 17-22 miles per hour throughout the game, quarterback Jordan West passed for 224 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair to Kendrick Bourne. On a third-and-6 play with EWU trailing by six, sophomores Conner Bauman and Andre Lino combined on a key stop that led to a shanked 22-yard Cal Poly punt. Eastern followed with a seven-play, 55-yard drive that was capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from West to Nic Sblendorio to pull EWU within 35-33. Late-game two-point conversions turned out to be the difference, with Eastern needing a pass from West to Terry Jackson II to knot the game at 35 with 57 seconds remaining and send the game into overtime. That came after EWU's first missed try was nullified by a Cal Poly holding penalty. West, who entered the game leading FCS in passing efficiency (201.6) and passing yards per game (385.8), finished 27-of-35 for 224 yards and four touchdowns. He completed his first eight attempts, but then just seven of his next 13 attempts as EWU punted on five of its next six possessions. But he completed 12 of his last 14 passes to end the game. Bourne finished with a career-high 10 catches for 84 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 25-yard TD in overtime and six catches in the fourth quarter. Junior Jabari Wilson had 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Senior linebacker Miquiyah Zamora and senior safety Todd Raynes both had 14 tackles for the Eagles. Baumann had 11 to establish a new career high in his first defensive career start. Cal Poly averaged 5.7 yards per rush, finishing with 503 yards and six touchdowns on 89 carries. The option-oriented Mustangs went into the game leading FCS in rushing with an average of 363.8 yards per game. Quarterback Chris Brown finished with 173 yards on the ground, and the Mustangs finished an impressive 9-of-17 on third down and 4-of-5 on fourth down.
* In the most recent meeting in California, the Eagle defense held the nation's top rushing team to three points through the first three quarters and Cooper Kupp set a pair of FCS receiving records, as the Eagles bested the option offense of Cal Poly 35-22 on Nov. 16, 2013, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. In a victory that wrapped up the league title for the Eagles, Eastern out-gained Cal Poly 486-437 in the game, including 415-146 in the middle two quarters. After a 44-yard drive for a game-opening field goal, in their next six possessions, the Mustangs managed no drive of longer than six plays or 54 yards. Meanwhile, EWU took a 35-3 lead. Kupp caught eight passes for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns as he equaled the FCS record for most consecutive games with a TD catch of 11 and broke the FCS record for receiving yards by a freshman. Vernon Adams completed 14-of-21 for 224 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but left the game with a shoulder injury suffered on a third-quarter TD pass. Senior Anthony Vitto replaced him and completed 14-of-21 passes for 127 yards and a TD. Ronnie Hamlin led the Eagles with 10 tackles, and senior Bo Schuetzle had the first two interceptions of his career to go along with a pair of tackles. The triple-option attack of Cal Poly went into the game averaging 308.6 rushing yards per game to lead FCS, and had 424 one game earlier. Cal Poly had also entered the game ranked 34th in FCS in total defense (350.0 per game) and 16th in scoring defense (21.0).
* In Cheney in 2012, Eastern came up with big drives on offense and big stops on defense, and the seventh-ranked Eagles rolled past 16th-ranked Cal Poly 34-17 at Roos Field. Vernon Adams led the Eagles with 288 yards passing and 68 on the ground, as the Eagles finished with 542 as a team. He completed 19-of-29 passes and had three touchdown tosses, and Eastern's scoring drives in the game were of 81, 66, 74, 69, 41 and 83 yards. Eastern had its second-best rushing effort of the season with 254 yards, with sophomore Quincy Forte finishing with 83 and junior Demitrius Bronson adding 82 and a score. Senior Nicholas Edwards had a team-leading five catches for 55 yards. Defensively, the Eagles allowed the vaunted Cal Poly triple-option attack to rush for 251 yards and finish with 411 yards total. The Mustangs were at one point in the game 9-of-13 on third down, but converted just one of its last five. The Eagles forced Cal Poly to punt five times, and also had a 3-1 advantage in turnovers forced. Senior defensive end Paul Ena had a team-high nine tackles.
* In the 2011 thriller, a touchdown pass by wide receiver Greg Herd sparked Eastern Washington to scores on four consecutive plays (two touchdowns and two conversions) in the second and third overtimes as the Eagles prevailed 53-51 at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Coming on what appeared to be a designed reverse, Herd's 25-yard TD toss to fellow wide receiver Nicholas Edwards helped send the game into a third overtime. After a game-tying point after conversion by Mike Jarrett, Bo Levi Mitchell passed 25 yards to Herd on the very next play for the go-ahead score to begin the third OT. Mitchell then scrambled his way into the end zone for the all-important two-point conversion. Cal Poly scored on the next possession, but Alden Gibbs broke up a pass on the two-point conversion to preserve Eastern's victory. A trade of field goals – including a school-record 15th on the season by Jarrett – opened the overtime. Eastern sent the game into overtime with a 10-play, 80-yard drive to score with 1:51 to play on a 22-yard pass play from Mitchell to his older brother Cory Mitchell, who finished the game with a career-high seven catches for 132 yards. Eastern couldn't stop Cal Poly from running the ball and the Mustangs couldn't stop the Eagle passing game. The Mustangs rushed for 405 yards on 95 carries and scored three-straight touchdowns late in the game to rally from a 28-14 deficit. Eastern, which passed for 461 yards in the game, converted 8-of-10 third downs in building a 28-14 lead in the third quarter. But three-straight empty possessions helped the Mustangs rally with scoring drives of 71, 80 and 77 yards. Mitchell, the leader in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 352.9 passing yards per game, completed 34-of-50 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns. Edwards caught 10 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Six Eagles had double figures in tackles, as Cal Poly had 107 total offensive plays compared to 73 for the Eagles. Linebacker Grant Williams finished with a career-high 19 tackles (seventh in school history), and linebacker Ronnie Hamlin had a career-high 16. Linebacker Tyler Washburn had 12 and Allen Brown had 10.
* In a 2004 game in Cheney, Erik Meyer passed for 417 yards and four touchdowns, and Eric Kimble caught nine passes for 151 yards and three of the scores to help the 21st-ranked Eagles upset 11th-ranked Cal Poly 38-21. Eastern handed the Mustangs their second-straight loss after a 7-0 start that had them ranked fifth in the country two weeks earlier. The performance by Meyer was then the fifth-best in school history as he finished with 431 yards of offense despite getting sacked six times. He completed 21-of-32 passes with one interception, and scrambled for 48 yards of gains while getting sacked for 34 yards of losses. Eastern piled-up a season-high 573 yards of total offense as it had 417 passing and 156 rushing. Defensively, Eastern held Cal Poly to 343 yards of offense, including just two yards rushing.
 
 

 
Recent Game Recap

 
The third-ranked Eastern Washington University football team scored 21 unanswered first half points and then struck twice in the third quarter to run past 16th-ranked Montana 35-16 in a Big Sky Conference showdown Oct. 29 at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash. Eastern's sensational senior receiver Cooper Kupp had touchdown receptions of 69, 40 and 5 yards, plus a 54-yard pass to sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud that set-up another score. Gubrud passed for 327 yards and four scores, with Kupp finishing with eight catches for 140 yards. But it was Eastern's defense that reversed a 57-16 loss last year in Missoula to a 19-point victory in this year's rematch. Eastern held Montana nearly 30 points below its season average of 44.9 points per game, and it was the fewest Montana has scored in the series since 1984. Although Montana out-gained Eastern 540-455, Eastern averaged 7.3 yards per play compared to 5.7 for the Grizzlies.  Montana had 94 offensive plays, but Eastern's defense held the Grizzlies to just two touchdowns, plus a field goal for UM's only points in a 43:50 span and 35-3 EWU scoring run. Eastern had interceptions by sophomores Mitch Fettig and Alek Kacmarcik, and sacks by Samson Ebukam and Dylan Donohue. Four of Montana's seven possessions in the first half ended with an interception, a missed fourth-down conversion, a missed field goal and two punts. In the second half, Eastern had an interception and forced Montana to punt four times – including a pair of three-and-outs. Trailing 7-0, Eastern scored late in the first quarter on a 69-yard scoring strike from Gubrud to Kupp. On EWU's next possession, on what appeared to be a reverse, Kupp found Gubrud for a 54-yard pass play to the Montana 2-yard line. Eastern's Tamarick Pierce then scored to give Eastern a 14-7 lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Eagles added three more scores during a game-deciding 35-3 scoring run. Gubrud completed just two of his first nine passes, but finished 21-of-37 and extended his string of passes of passes without an interception to 222 until the Grizzlies tipped and intercepted a pass in the third quarter. Senior Kendrick Bourne had his ninth 100-yard performance receiving, finishing with five catches for 124 yards. Fettig had a career-high 13 tackles to eclipse his previous career high for tackles by four. Senior safety Zach Bruce came one tackle from his career high, finishing with 13 and a pass broken up. Senior linebacker Miquiyah Zamora had 11 tackles, giving him 322 in his career to move into the No. 9 position in school history. Kacmarcik was the fourth Eagle in double figures in tackles with 11, as well as an interception he returned 46 yards.
 
 
 

Injury Report

 
* Linebacker Kurt Calhoun (hamstring) missed the Montana game after getting injured versus Montana State on Oct. 22. Senior starting center Jerrod Jones (knee) missed his fifth-straight game versus UM and remains out indefinitely. After missing two games, starting tackle Nick Ellison (rib) returned to start against Montana State. Backup offensive lineman Will Gram (concussion) missed three games starting with the Northern Arizona game, and as a result, Eastern converted a defensive lineman (Jakob Stoll) and tight end (Beau Byus) to the offensive line. Wide receiver Nsimba Webster broke his clavicle on a 61-yard kickoff return against UC Davis on Oct. 1 and is also out indefinitely.
* Previously, running back Antoine Custer Jr. (concussion) missed the UNC game, and backup defensive back Asan Neil-Evergin (groin) missed the UNC and UC Davis games. Backup wide receiver Stu Stiles (shoulder) missed the UC Davis game, while defensive end Keenan Williams (ankle) missed his third-straight game versus UC Davis. Cornerback Victor Gamboa (concussion) missed the Northern Arizona game, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp (shoulder), nose tackle Matthew Sommer (knee) and linebacker Alek Kacmarcik (concussion) were out versus Northern Iowa. Kupp missed 1 1/2 games, Kacmarcik missed two and Sommer saw his first action of the season versus NAU. Against the Bison, Eastern played without its two starting linebackers, senior Miquiyah Zamora (hamstring) and Kacmarcik. Kupp and sophomore rover Cole Karstetter (ruptured Achilles) were lost in the second half with injuries, as was starting offensive guard Chris Schlichting (shoulder). Karstetter, a 2014 graduate of Spokane's Ferris High School, was lost for the season and underwent surgery after making the fifth start of his career against the Bison. Schlichting returned to start versus Northern Iowa. Defensive end Nick Foerstel (knee) is out for the year because of an injury suffered the first week of spring practices, and defensive end Conner Baumann (foot) is still recovering from an injury he suffered in the spring and will redshirt
 
 
 

Quoting Beau Baldwin

 
On Defense: "Sometimes there is a misconception that every game we play is something like 56-54. That's not true. When you just look at Big Sky play, our defense is right up there near the top of the conference in points allowed. We just play a really tough non-conference schedule which not everybody does. Our guys are making plays and that's part of being a great defense if you can win the turnover battle. We were definitely forcing some turnovers again."
 
On Importance of UM Victory: "It's just big to win. It's big to win on the red, big to win in front of a great home crowd and big to win in a Big Sky game late in the year. It just puts us in a good situation."
 
On Cooper Kupp: "What he is doing is phenomenal, especially considering how productive he can be when everybody knows he's going to get balls thrown his way. But he'll be the first to say it's hard to focus on just him in our offense with the players we have around him at wide receiver, running back and Gage at quarterback having the ability to take off and run. It's fun and I'm just enjoying every minute of this season of being around him and watching him continue to grow as a leader and person. We're going to ride it as long as we can. He has a competiveness, will and desire to chase perfection. He looks for things he can do better, and it started in the offseason. He wants to understand the whole game of football better and he wants to continue to grow in everything he is doing. That's just how he is wired."
 
On Gage Gubrud After MSU Win: "I like to break the season down to thirds, to get a feel for how someone is playing early in the season, in the middle of the season and late in the season – especially when you are talking about young quarterbacks. The thing I love about Gage compared to his first three games is that he's playing incredibly patient and disciplined. He's continuing to take what a defense gives him, and teams can sometimes frustrate you when they force you to continually take everything underneath. He's handling that really well, and regardless of the statistics and yards, he's taking care of the football a ton better than he did at the beginning of the year. Those are the steps he's taken that I've been most impressed with, and how he's growing as a quarterback."
 
On Narrow Loss at North Dakota State: "I'm just proud of our players, and I'm not caught up in the end result with how I feel about how these guys came in here and battled. It was a game either team could have won and came down to the wire. Give them credit, they found a way to win. From a broad perspective in how we competed, our attitude and our effort, I loved how it felt the entire game. I know we got down 10, but we never rolled over. We kept fighting and threw punches on both sides of the ball. We got some key stops late and made some big plays to score some key points."
 
On Five New Starters on Offensive Line Versus WSU: "Based on offensive numbers and what people saw, I thought they answered a lot of questions. It's especially tough on an offensive line on the road when it's tougher to hear and you have to go with silent counts. They did their work humbly and they were hungry. They respected the crew that was here last year, but they want to start something and grow together as an offense line. They are going to have to continue to grow because there are going to be plenty of mistakes to correct. Whether we won that game by three or lost that game by seven, all the plays you study are all the same. Sometimes we get caught up with end result, but sometimes he comes down to one play here or there in the result. Yet the other 100-plus plays have to be evaluated. But I really believe, like I said about Gage, they didn't come in worried or nervous. They had the mindset that we belong, and they took that approach and attitude."
 
On Readiness of Freshman Running Backs: "We feel like they have come in here ready to go. And part of that is they got here in the summer and they did work. Had they just showed up in August they wouldn't be where they are now. So that was a mindset by them too, to do some things early to just get around the guys even when we weren't around as coaches. On top of that, coach Mac (Kiel McDonald) has done a great job of getting them ready. That's not easy and this offense is not necessarily easy for running backs in terms of being ready mentally. It's a challenge for those guys because they are in lot of spots -- they are not just back there behind the quarterback – they are all over the place. To me that says a lot about what coach Mac has done with those guys. And it says a lot about them and their desire to learn it and to be ready so that they can play fast. Because once you're thinking, you can't play at the speed you need to. But we've seen those guys play at that speed, which means they're not thinking that much. I'm just happy about that group in general, including our three returning backs and newcomer Dennis Merritt. We're a lot better right now, so that says a lot about where we've come in one year at that position."
 
On Receivers: "I like the fact that we have a core of guys -- seven or eight receivers – who are all contributing at a high level. It's not like the burden is all going to be put on the shoulders of one or two guys. It may seem like that when people talk about Coop and K.B., but realistically we have a lot of guys spread out that can make a lot of plays. And that includes our tight ends. So you don't feel that burden on one or two guys."
 
On Return of Cooper Kupp: "We're excited to not only get such an outstanding student-athlete like Cooper back for another year, but we are grateful to have such an amazing leader and presence in our locker room return for his senior season. He is one of the smartest and most mature student-athletes I've been around, and the best football player I've ever coached. And that's saying a lot. But it's true. He's hands-down the best all-around football player I've been lucky enough to be around."

On Challenging Schedule: "It's exciting to play a tough schedule and put ourselves in some challenging situations. That's what our coaches and players love to do. I always wonder if it can get any more challenging than whatever we did last year or the year before, but this one might be the topper. But it's exciting at the same time. When I sit down with (athletic director) Bill Chaves and talk about the games we have the opportunity to play, we get excited about putting ourselves on that stage and in that challenging moment. It's a chance to do special things. To play a home-and-home with North Dakota State is huge, on top of playing Washington State and Northern Iowa again. It's going to be a challenge, but our program relishes that and will embrace it."
 
 
 

Career Starts by Returning Players

 
Six Eagles Make Starting Debuts in Opener Versus Washington State
 
Six Eastern players made their starting debuts against Washington State. The lone starting debut on defense was made by sophomore cornerback Josh Lewis. On offense, three of the four new starters are along the offensive line where all five starters and two senior backups were lost from the 2015 team. Freshman redshirts Tristen Taylor (tackle) and Chris Schlichting (guard) made their debuts on the left side of Eastern's line, and sophomore Matt Meyer made his debut at right guard. The other new starter was sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud, who attempted just 13 passes as a redshirt freshman in 2015. True freshman Antoine Custer Jr. started for the first time in his career, and he and Gubrud hooked up on a 14-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter that was the initial TD of the 2016 season and of their careers. Junior Albert Havili made his first career start as a defensive end and finished with six tackles versus the Cougars. He started twice in 2014 as a linebacker before a knee injury forced him to redshirt in the 2015 season. His injury occurred in the first padded practice in spring of 2015 right after he moved from linebacker to defensive end. He set an EWU true freshman record with 61 tackles in 2013.
Since then, seven Eagles have made starting debuts. Sophomore Jack Hunter started at guard against UC Davis and Spencer Blackburn made his starting debut versus Northern Arizona because of injuries along the offensive line. Freshman redshirt Jayce Gilder made his starting debut against Northern Arizona when EWU started the game in a two tight end formation. Sophomore wide receiver Stu Stiles made his against Northern Iowa as an injury replacement for Cooper Kupp. Defensively, sophomore linebackers Kurt Calhoun and Ketner Kupp made their starting debuts as injury replacements against top-ranked and five-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State. Senior J.J. Njoku made his debut one game later versus Northern Iowa, also as an injury replacement. Njoku, who tore his Achilles just after arriving at EWU following his transfer from Washington State, was replacing Cole Karstetter, who also suffered a ruptured Achilles.
 
 
Defense (253 starts by 21 players): Miquiyah Zamora 40, Samson Ebukam 32, Matthew Sommer 26, Victor Gamboa 21, Zach Bruce 18, Nzuzi Webster 17, Andre Lino 16, Mitch Fettig 16, Albert Havili 10, Keenan Williams 9, Jay-Tee Tiuli 8, Alek Kacmarcik 8, Josh Lewis 6, J.J. Njoku 6, Cole Karstetter 5, Jake Hoffman 5, D'londo Tucker 4, Ketner Kupp 2, Kurt Calhoun 1, Jonah Jordan 1, Conner Baumann 2 (one as a fullback).
 
Offense (211 starts by 22 players): Cooper Kupp 46, Kendrick Bourne 27, Zach Wimberly 19, Shaq Hill 19, Jabari Wilson 15, Jordan West 13, Nick Ellison 10, Gage Gubrud 8, Tristen Taylor 8, Chris Schlichting 8, Matt Meyer 8, Nic Sblendorio 7, Jerrod Jones 5, Spencer Blackburn 5, Antoine Custer Jr. 3, Jack Hunter 2, Terence Grady 2, Reilly Hennessey 2, Stu Stiles 1, Jayce Gilder 1, Nsimba Webster 1, Kaleb Levao 1 (as defensive lineman).