The weather was better, but there was still a split-decision in the second full scrimmage of spring practices for the Eastern Washington University football team on Saturday (April 20) at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.
 
Led by junior quarterback Eric Barriere, the offense finished the 82-play scrimmage with 433 yards, including 361 through the air. Barriere and sophomore backup Gunner Talkington both directed a pair of scoring drives, and combined for three touchdown tosses.
 
The defense finished with eight quick-whistle sacks, and had another 13 other tackles for no gain or a loss of yards. In all, the offense scored on five possessions and missed two field goals, while the defense stopped them on downs nine other times, forced one turnover and earned a safety on a poor center snap.
 
"It was a good evaluative scrimmage," said Eastern head coach Aaron Best, whose team has battled cold, wind and rain throughout spring practices thus far. "I thought there were a lot of good things we can take from a close-up view."
 
Barriere completed his first eight passes, and engineered a five-play, 75-yard drive on the opening possession. Antoine Custer Jr. rushed twice for 25 yards and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in his lone action of the day. Barriere also had a 39-yard TD pass to Jayson Williams, and finished 11-of-16 for 165 yards.
 
Talkington led the offense to scoring drives of 85 and 81 yards, and completed 7-of-14 for 138 yards and a 2-yard TD pass to freshman redshirt Freddie Roberson to end the scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Isaiah Lewis scored on a 5-yard run, and Andre Slyter made a 47-yard field goal for the other scores by the offense.
 
 "We were more consistent in the passing game – we completed more passes and had a few more chances to secure catches," said Best. "We'll continue to play faster, and that's the next step for our offense. We want to stay on the gas – it's not a parking lot with speed bumps. We want to play as fast and as long as we can, and the no-huddle is in place to kind of take the wind out of the sails of the defense."
 
Junior Johnny Edwards IV led all receivers with five catches for 60 yards, and Talolo Limu-Jones had 87 yards on a trio of grabs. Redshirt freshman Micah Smith rushed 13 times for 36 yards as the offense finished with a net 72 yards rushing. But 12 yards of losses came as the result of poor center snaps, and coupled with the 69 yards lost from the sacks, the offense actually had 141 positive rushing yards.
 
"Our snapping has to be a little more consistent," added Best. "We were off a bit off at times and that throws your run-pass option game off and your quick game off because your eyes are different when the ball is not delivered where it needs to be."
 
Senior defensive end Jim Townsend had three of the eight sacks, plus had a forced fumble on a tackle that was recovered by junior linebacker Chris Ojoh, who finished with a scrimmage-high seven tackles. Redshirt freshman cornerback Ira Branch had a pair of passes broken up.
 
"He plays with great emotion and I like watching him play," Best said of Ojoh, who had 105 tackles a year ago. "He's a great player and has yet to reach his ceiling. He has so much more in him, even though you see the product he is today. He has great upside."
 
The Eagles will continue spring practices next week, culminating with the annual Red-White Game at noon on April 27 at Roos Field.
 
"I know we took a step forward from last week to this week, and we'll continue to gain momentum going into the spring game next Saturday," added Best.
 
 
 

Scrimmage Statistics

 
Scoring Plays 
Antoine Custer Jr. 25 pass from Eric Barriere (Andre Slyter kick)
Jayson Williams 39 pass from Barriere (Slyter kick)
Isaiah Lewis 5 run (Jackson Clemensen kick)
FG Slyter 47
Freddie Roberson 2 pass from Gunner Talkington (Slyter kick)
 
Rushing: Micah Smith 13-36, Antoine Custer Jr. 1-25, Dennis Merritt 4-20, Gunner Talkington 4-10, Simon Burkett  4-10, Isaiah Lewis 4-2, Michael Taras 1-minus 5, Eric Barriere 7-minus-19, Team  1-minus-7, Totals 39-72 (29-153 not including eight quick-whistle sacks and bad snaps)
 
Passing: Eric Barriere 11-of-16 165, Gunner Talkington 7-of-14 138, Simon Burkett 2-of-7 30, Michael Taras 2-of-6 28, Totals 22-of-43-361.

Receiving: Johnny Edwards IV 5-60, Trent Harris 4-67, Talolo Limu-Jones 3-87, Andrew Boston 3-17, Anthony Stell Jr. 2-44, Jayson Williams 1-39, Antoine Custer Jr. 1-25, Dylan Ingram 1-12, Dennis Merritt 1-8, Freddie Roberson 1-2, Totals 22-.
 
Tackles Leaders:
Chris Ojoh 7, Tamir Hill 6, Jim Townsend 4, Cale Lindsay 4, Anthany Smith 4, Joshua Jerome 4, Keshaun King 4, Hunter Klinge 4, John Nascimento 4, Rudolph Mataia Jr. 3, Darnell Hogan 3, Emmanuel Osuoha 3,  .
 
Interceptions: None.
 
Passes Broken Up: Ira Branch 2, Tamir Hill 2, Emmanuel Osuoha 1, Joshua Jerome 1, Cale Lindsay 1, Rudolph Mataia Jr. 2.
 
Sacks: Jim Townsend 3, Cale Lindsay 1, Rudolph Mataia Jr. 1, Joshua Jerome 1, Zion Fa'aopega 1, Justin Patterson 1.
 
Forced Fumble: Jim Townsend.
 
Fumble Recovery: Chris Ojoh.