With just over two weeks until the start of the 2021 season, the Eastern Washington University football team took to Roos Field today (Aug. 18) for the first full scrimmage of fall camp in Cheney, Wash.
 
"Today was better than the half-scrimmage on Saturday. I think we played more energized in pockets and we were in better football shape," said head coach Aaron Best on today's scrimmage. "There were too many self-induced penalties, and defensively, we didn't buckle down enough. It was good to see a lot of players get reps that didn't get them on Saturday, and I think we're in a flow, especially on offense. Any time you have a receiving corps and quarterback that does what they do day in and day out, they're fun to watch."
 
The offense had 652 total yards, including 465 through the air. Five quarterbacks saw action, with senior Eric Barriere leading the way with 233 passing yards (11-14) and three touchdowns. Redshirt-sophomore Simon Burkett was 5-of-8 with 105 total yards and a touchdown. In all, the Eagles scored six touchdowns and connected on four field goals for a total of 54 points.
 
The Eagles were off to a fast start, scoring five times in their first six possessions. Barriere connected with Talolo Limu-Jones for 66 yards for the game's first touchdown. Limu-Jones would lead all receivers with four catches for 101 total yards.
 
"Eric Barriere was awesome as usual today. He's a quiet soul, but his game is loud. He urged Coach (Ian) Shoemaker to play him a little bit more than maybe we anticipated, but he has the keys to the car, and he drove it pretty fast today. Any time you have the best player in America at the helm, you get to see him work day-in and day-out on the practice field, and when he puts that work in the scrimmage setting, it's awfully nice to see."
 
After that, Harrison made a 28-yard field goal, his first of two on the day. He would make a 29-yard attempt later in the game, and went a perfect four-for-four on extra points.
 
The next score came on a 76-yard pass from Barriere to redshirt-sophomore Freddie Roberson. Roberson collected 82 yards on two catches. Freshman Wyatt Hawkins made back-to-back 46 and 27-yard field goals to complete the fast start for the Eagles.
 
True freshman Messiah Jones was third on the team with 53 receiving yards on two catches, including a 47-yard touchdown pass from Burkett. Another true freshman, and Kamiakin High School teammate, Tuna Altahir impressed with a team-high 77 rushing yards on 13 carries, ending the day with a three-yard rushing touchdown.
 
EWU's other two scores came mid-scrimmage from Isaiah Lewis on an eight-yard run. Johnny Edwards IV earned a one-yard touchdown reception on a fumble return after a 29-yard pass from Barriere to Limu-Jones.
 
Defensively, the Eagles recorded six total sacks with Warren Hardin and LeAndre Gaines leading the way with one and a half each. Ahmani Williams led the way with 10 tackles, followed by Cage Schenck with nine and Shane Aleaga with six. There were four passes broken up by four different Eagles, and Kentrell Williams Jr. recorded the lone fumble recovery.
 
Eastern practices two more weeks and will officially move to Roos Field on Monday, Aug. 23 with another scrimmage taking place the following Wednesday (Aug. 25) at 2 p.m. The Eagles open their season at UNLV on Thursday, Sept. 2 and will open up at home on Sept. 11 against Central Washington.
 
Scrimmage Statistics:
 
Scoring Plays (6 touchdowns, four field goals = 54 points)
Talolo Limu-Jones 66-yard pass from Eric Barriere (Seth Harrison kick)
Seth Harrison 28-yard field goal
Freddie Roberson 76-yard pass from Barriere (Harrison kick)
Wyatt Hawkins 46-yard field goal
Wyatt Hawkins 27-yard field goal
Isaiah Lewis 8-yard run (Jackson Cleaver kick)
Johnny Edwards IV 1-yard TD reception on fumble return after 29-yard pass from Barriere to Limu-Jones (Cleaver kick)
Messiah Jones 47-yard pass from Simon Burkett (Harrison kick)
Harrison 29-yard field goal
Tuna Altahir 3-yard run (Harrison kick)
 
Rushing: Tuna Altahir 13-77-1TD, Davante Smith 5-49, Isaiah Lewis 4-38-1TD, Eric Barriere 3-16, Justice Jackson 4-6, Gunner Talkington 2-7, Trey Turner 2-6, Ryan Kelley 2-0, Simon Burkett 6-minus-12, Totals 41-187-2TD.
 
Passing: Eric Barriere 11-14-233-3TD, Simon Burkett 5-8-105-1TD, Gunner Talkington 5-7-88, Kekoa Visperas 1-4-25, Ryan Kelley 2-4-14, Totals 24-37-465-4TD.
 
Receiving: Talolo Limu-Jones 4-101, Freddie Roberson 2-82, Messiah Jones 2-53, Aiden Nellor 2-43, Efton Chism III 2-23, Isaiah Lewis 2-7, Nolan Ulm 2-8, Justice Jackson 1-45, Jakobie James 1-27, Josh Johnson 1-25, Johnny Edwards IV 1-14 (fumble recovery counts as no catch for 1  yard), Blake Gobel 1-13, Andrew Boston 1-10, Tuna Altahair 1-7, Isaiah Howard 1-7, Totals 24-465.
 
Total Tackles: Ahmani Williams 10, Cage Schenck 9, Shane Aleaga 6, Trevor Thurman 5, Sean Skladany 5, Jacob Newsom 5, Kentrell Williams Jr. 5, Marlon Jones Jr. 4, Keshaun King 4, DaJean Wells 4, LeAndre Gaines 4, Cale Lindsay 4, Mitchell Johnson 3, Joseph Obeto 3, Daniel Taumoepeau 3, Chad Vidican 3, Ely Doyle 2, Kameron Lane 2, Taalefili Fata 2, Gabriel Johnson 2, Debore'ae McClain 1, Demetrius Crosby Jr. 1, Desmian Licon 1, Armani Orange 1, Ronald Davis III 1, Emilio Veater 1, Matthew Brown 1, Warren Hardin 1, Soli Paleso'o 1.
 
Sacks: Warren Hardin 1 1/2, LeAndre Gaines 1 1/2, Mitchell Johnson 1, Soli Paleso'o 1, Shane Aleaga 1/2, Daniel Taumoepeau 1/2, Totals 6.
 
Passes Broken Up: Demetrius Crosby Jr. 1, Kameron Lane 1, Desmian Licon 1, Emilio Veater 1, Totals 4.
 
Fumble Recovery: Kentrell Williams Jr. 1.
 
Forced Fumbles: Taalefili Fata1, Ely Doyle 1.
 
More Comments from Head Coach Aaron Best:
 
On Numerous Explosive Plays during the Scrimmage: "In one capacity, you're really excited. Some of that probably has to do with our receiving corps and the quarterback. Coach (Ian) Shoemaker is going to be aggressive in his play calling, and our guys are going to make plays when the plays are there to make. On the other side of things, we need to look at where we are personnel wise and schematically to make sure that we're good and in a better position to really make plays in the end. When you have a talented receiving corps and players that have a ton of experience, they're going to take advantage of a lot of defenses, not just our own. In one room you're clapping and the other you're looking into things a little bit deeper. We'll take a look at the film and try not to evaluate right after the scrimmage from a specificity standpoint, because you just don't know until you see the film."
 
On How the Wide Receivers Played: "A lot of credit goes to Pat McCann coaching the receiving corps and identifying those guys out of high school. Every year, we go after some needs; whether it's a longer receiver, whether it's a more versatile receiver, or whether it's an athletic or possession receiver. We've got a good blend of guys in that room. Even though there's a ton of experience in that room, and even though those guys haven't played a ton, it's just as competitive as ever. It might be the most competitive position on the team from top to bottom, those guys are eager and hungry to play. They know we take seven or eight on the road, and there's more than seven or eight that can play. We're fortunate to have a lot of guys that can play in the Big Sky that happen to be on this team. Collectively, they're fun and awesome to see. They're aggressive in their approach, and they're pros about it - they were watching film last night at 10:30 prior to the scrimmage. As much as you want them to get sleep, it's also nice that they're film junkies, and it shows when we get to these moments."
 
On Younger Players that Made an Impression: "Davante Smith and Tuna Altahir are both young running backs that took all the reps on Saturday. It's fun to see them take the practice field applications and put them into a game setting. Both those players are going to be really good at the end of their careers, and we're better if they're better sooner rather than later. We'll continue to push the envelope with a few guys out in the running back position. With the freshmen just getting to campus two weeks ago, those are two that stood out that maybe no one has seen up until this point."
 
Remaining Fall Camp Practices (as of Aug. 20):
 
Thursday, Aug. 19 – No Practice
Friday, Aug. 20 – Practice, 9:15 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 21 – Practice, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 22 – Practice, 2:30 p.m.
 
Monday, Aug. 23 – Practice, 2:30 p.m. (First Official Day on Roos Field, Media Availability Before Practice in the Academic Center at 2 p.m.)
Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Practice, 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 25 – Scrimmage #2, 2 p.m. (Media Availability Afterwards on Roos Field)
 
***Media availability for UNLV will take place on Monday, Aug. 30 with a time TBA.