GAME BOOK

Back at home for the first time since September, the Eastern Washington University football team played host to No. 5 Sacramento State for Homecoming at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash., tonight (Oct. 15). The Eagles scored 21-unanswered points in the second quarter to tie the game at 21-21, but were outscored 31-7 throughout the remainder of the game en route to a 52-28 loss.
 
EWU now falls to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in Big Sky Conference play while Sacramento State improves to an unblemished 6-0 and 3-0. The Eagles have now lost two-straight to the Hornets, but still lead the all-time series 19-6.
 
It was all Sacramento State to start the game, taking a 21-0 lead into the second quarter. From there, the Eagle offense came alive and answered back with 21-straight points of their own to tie the game with 8:08 left to play in the half. The Hornets countered and scored 14-straight points to end the half, taking a 35-21 lead into the locker room.
 
The Hornets would wind up scoring 21-unanswered points until a 24-yard touchdown reception from Gunner Talkington to Freddie Roberson snapped the output, making it a 42-28 game midway through the third. Sacramento State tacked on a field goal, and led 45-28 going into the fourth where they would tack on one more score for the 52-28 win.
 
"There are three things that standout from a game-plan perspective. First was special teams, especially the kicking units. We had a blocked field goal and a missed field goal, and it didn't help us or create momentum. The time of possession was 13 minutes in favor of Sacramento State. Credit to their offense for staying on the field, we couldn't get off on third or fourth down defensively. And, rushing yards, the amount against our defense and the lack of for our offense. They took away some things, and we didn't capitalize on some things. And the penalties, we had close to 90 yards in penalties with them only having about 20. We need to look at the film and see what we need to clean up from a technical aspect," said head coach Aaron Best. "Through six games, we've been great in pockets and not great in other pockets. We created some momentum, gathered some momentum, but didn't capture momentum. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but we were up 21-21 and they went up 28-21 and then we had the long screen to Freddie Roberson that got called back. In actuality it wasn't a 10-yard penalty, it was an 85-yard penalty when all was said and done with a one-play sequence that got called back. We have a fair amount of stuff to do with stopping the run, and we have to find our first win this next week on the road. We have to put things behind us and learn from it and we have to start stacking series both offensively and defensively within those units and with special teams."
 
Talkington completed 26 of his 45 pass attempts with one interception, throwing for a career-high 370 yards and three touchdowns. He added seven yards on the ground for a new career-high in total offense of 377 yards.
 
As a team, the Eagles had 460 yards of total offense, including 370 through the air and 90 on the ground. They were 7-of-16 on third down compared to 9-of-13 for the Hornets. Sacramento State totaled 525 yards of total offense, with 385 on the ground and 140 passing yards.
 
Efton Chism III led the way for Eastern with 129 receiving yards on nine catches and two receiving touchdowns - his second-career game with over 100 receiving yards. Freddie Roberson was close behind, hauling in 97 yards on three catches with a touchdown of his own.
 
Justice Jackson led the way with 50 receiving yards on 10 carries, plus a touchdown. Micah Smith added 41 on the ground with six carries.
 
On the defensive front, Ely Doyle notched his second-straight game with at least 10 tackles - his third of the season. Derek Tommasini and Kentrell Williams Jr. added eight tackles. Williams also grabbed his first career interception, and Marlon Jones Jr. earned his second interception of the season as well. Additionally, Brock Harrison forced a fumble that was recovered by Demetrius Crosby Jr.
 
For just the second time since 2010, Eastern Washington won the turnover battle (3-1) but lost the game. The five-game losing streak matches the longest since 1995, and the Eagles have not been 1-5 since 2006 – their last losing season.
 
Eastern Washington hits the road once again to face Cal Poly next week (Oct. 22) in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN+ and on the air via 700-AM ESPN & 103.5 FM. The Mustangs, coached by former EWU head coach Beau Baldwin, are also 1-5 and 0-3 and are coming off of a 40-31 loss at Idaho State.
 
Scoring Summary & Game Details
 
After Eastern Washington went three-and-out to start, Sacramento State scored on its opening drive following a one-yard rush to take a 7-0 lead.
 
On Eastern's next drive, the Hornets drew an interception for a 22-yard pick-six, pulling ahead 14-0 after the PAT.
 
After the Eagles turned the ball over on downs, they got it right back after Marlon Jones Jr.'s fifth career interception and the second of the season, as EWU took over on their own 25-yard line. From there, Gunner Talkington found Efton Chism III for a 50-yard reception down to Sacramento State's 25-yard line. On 4^th & 10, Seth Harrison came on to try a 43-yard field goal, and it was blocked and returned for 36-yards. The Hornets would turn their fortune into points, utilizing a 37-yard rushing touchdown at a PAT to take a 21-0 lead.
 
The Hornets led 21-0 after the first quarter, despite EWU having 116 yards of offense and the ball for 10:02 compared to 106 total yards for Sacramento State and 4:58 for time of possession.
 
In the beginning of the second quarter, Talkington found Jakobie James for a 31-yard strike to set up first-and-10 on Sacramento State's two-yard line. From there, Talkington hit Efton Chism III for his fourth touchdown of the year, putting the Eagles on the board 21-7 after the one-yard reception. The drive was 11 plays for 83 yards, taking 3:34 off the clock.
 
The Eagle defense struck again on Sacramento State's ensuing drive. Brock Harrison forced a fumble that was recovered by Demetrius Crosby Jr. and returned nine-yards to the Hornets' 36-yard line. After a 10-yard rush from Davante Smith, Chism found the endzone for the second time during the second quarter, this time on a 26-yard reception from Talkington. Eastern's point after was no good, making it a 21-13 score. It was Harrison's second forced fumble of the year, and Chism's 15^th career touchdown.
 
EWU made a stop on third down during the Hornets' next offensive drive. Talkington found Freddie Roberson for a deep 42-yard reception to set 1^st and 10 on Sacramento State's 30-yard line. Justice Jackson then rushed for 15-yards to the endzone for his first rushing touchdown of the season, and Talkington struck Blake Gobel for a successful two-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21 with 8:08 left to play in the second.
 
The Hornets scored their first touchdown of the second quarter after a one-yard rushing touchdown capped a 75-yard drive. After the PAT, Sacramento State led 28-21. Sacramento State scored one more time to end the quarter on an 11-yard reception, taking a 35-21 lead into the half.
 
The Eagle defense started things off strong once again in the early goings of the second half when Kentrell Williams Jr. grabbed his first career interception in the endzone. Eastern was unable to capitalize on the turnover.
 
The Hornets scored their 21^st unanswered point on a five-yard rushing touchdown on their second offensive drive of the half.
 
Eastern Washington snapped their offensive drought when Talkington found Freddie Roberson for a 24-yard catch-and-run. After Wyatt Hawkins' extra-point was good, the Eagles cut the lead down to 42-28. The drive was set up by a 31-strike from Talkington to Roberson. It was Roberson's fourth touchdown of the season and the 13^th of his career.
 
After a 36-yard field goal attempt, the Hornets pulled ahead 45-28. The drive took 5:55 off of the clock. At the end of the third, Sacramento State led 45-28.
 
In the fourth, the Hornets scored one more time on an eight-yard reception, winning 52-28.