EWU Game Notes

Fresh off snapping a five-game losing streak on Saturday, the Eastern Washington University football team looks to make it two victories in a row when it hosts Portland State on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is set for 1:02 p.m. Pacific time from Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.
 
The game will be broadcast regionally on SWX and online via ESPN+. Additionally, the contest will also be broadcast on 700-AM ESPN and 105.3-FM in the Spokane/Cheney area. Larry Weir returns for his 32nd season calling the play-by-play, with analysis handled by Paul Sorensen for the 20th season. Broadcasts begin one hour prior to kickoff and include an expanded post-game show.
 
The Eagles defeated Cal Poly on the road on Saturday, Oct. 22 by a score of 17-10. The win snapped a five-game losing streak, which was the program's longest since the 1995 season. Additionally, it was the first time EWU was 1-5 to start the season since 2006, its last losing season as the Eagles sit at 15-straight seasons with a winning record. Now, Eastern Washington has improved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in Big Sky Conference play. This week's opponent in Portland State sports an identical record. Eastern's five losses are against two Power Five schools in Oregon and Florida, and three losses to ranked Big Sky opponents, all of which were played consecutively with three on the road.
 
After Saturday's win, the Eagles now have 54-straight seasons with at least one road win. Eastern Washington was tied 10-10 with the Mustangs entering the fourth quarter, but a 20-yard touchdown strike from Gunner Talkington to Freddie Roberson gave EWU a 17-10 lead with 8:54 remaining en route to the victory. The Eagle defense also had five takeaways, and held Cal Poly to just 238 yards of total offense.
 
It's the second-straight game that the Vikings will play on the road, coming off a 56-21 defeat at No. 17 Idaho on Saturday. The Eagles and the Vikings have one like opponent so far this season in Weber State, which both teams lost to. EWU fell to the then No. 7 Wildcats 45-21 and PSU lost 42-7.
 
Eastern has a slim 22-20-1 lead in the all-time series, and Eastern has won the last five meetings, eight of the last nine and 10 of the last 12. Eastern is 8-11-1 at home against the Vikings and 1-0 in neutral site games. Eastern is 13-9 against the Vikings on the road in Portland, including victories in 2021 (42-28), 2018 (74-23), 2010 (50-17) and 2002 (27-24) at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
Eastern has won the last six road games versus PSU (42-28 in 2021, 74-23 in 2018, 36-28 in 2016, 56-34 in 2014, 41-34 in 2012 and 50-17 in 2010), and hasn't lost there since falling 47-36 in the 2008 season. In fact, the road team has won 14 of the last 23 meetings, not including a 2009 neutral site game in Seattle. Prior to EWU's current five-game winning streak overall in the series, the longest previous streak by either team was by Portland State in the first four games of the series from 1968-71.
 
The Eagles, who do not play in consecutive games at Roos Field this season, head back out onto the road next week to play at Idaho who is currently ranked No. 14 in the Stats Perform poll, sitting at 5-2 overall and 4-0 in Big Sky play. The game is on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 12 p.m. in Moscow, Idaho in the Kibbie Dome.

Game Notes
Eastern is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history and its 15th Football Subdivision Championship playoff berth. Gone is 2021 Walter Payton Award winner and All-America quarterback, Eric Barriere, along with fellow All-Americans Tristen Taylor and Talolo Limu-Jones, but what's back is a group of players who learned under their tutelage and are ready to emerge.

Eastern Washington lost 10 starters from the 2021 squad that finished the year 10-3 (6-2 in league play). The Eagles did not lose a regular season game on the road, a feat that hadn't been done since 1967, and won their first seven games for the program's best start the FCS level. Starters lost include six on offense and four on defense along with 18 total letterwinners. Back are 12 starters (five offense, seven defense, plus three kickers, a punter and snapper) and 47 letterwinners.

Headlining the cast of returners are eight players who have previously earned All-Big Sky Conference honors, with five being honored following the 2021 season. Among the five are wide receivers Freddie Roberson and Efton Chism III, guard Wyatt Musser, and defensive line members Joshua Jerome and Mitchell Johnson. Safeties Anthany Smith and Tre Weed, along with kicker Seth Harrison, earned honors in 2020-21.

Eastern entered the Fall season with a total of 31 players returning with 285 games of starting experience, including 16 players on defense with 181 starts and 15 on offense with 104 starts.

And the Eagles entered it as one of the top 25 teams in FCS as well. In the preseason rankings released in June by Athlon Sports, the Eagles ranked No. 15. In the HERO Sports preseason poll released in May, Eastern came in at No. 18. Eastern closed the 2021 season seventh in the Stats Perform NCAA Football Championship Subdivision top 25 poll, and EWU was ninth by the coaches. Eastern was ranked in 30-straight Stats Perform polls until falling out on Oct. 10, 2022.

Eastern was picked to finish sixth by both the coaches and the media in the Big Sky preseason poll. It was also ranked No. 13 in the preseason Stats Perform poll and No. 12 by the AFCA.

Consistency has been a cornerstone of EWU football, and the Eagles have cemented an 18-year run of winning the league title and/or advancing to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs at least every other year. Eastern has achieved that feat ever since its last back-back-empty seasons in 2002 and 2003. Eastern has led the nation in total yards of offense per game twice in the last three years (2021, 554.5 and 2019, 524.8).

In 2018, Eastern secured its 10th Big Sky title. Three years later, the Eagles secured their 15th appearance in the FCS Playoffs in what is now 38 years as a member of the FCS (formerly I-AA). Since 2010 when EWU won the NCAA Division I title, the Eagles have won league titles six times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018) and advanced to the playoffs all six of those seasons plus in 2020-21 and 2021.

While the Eagles were making their 15th appearance overall in the FCS Playoffs in the 2021 season, sixth-year head coach Aaron Best made his 12th as an EWU player or coach. In six years at the helm, Best owns an overall record of 43-22, including 31-11 in Big Sky play.

From 2004 to 2009 Eastern advanced to the playoffs four times (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009), and won the league title twice (2004, 2005). Eastern has three other playoff berths in school history (1985, 1992, 1997) and two other titles (1992, 1997), and has only had two multi-year stretches in which they accomplished neither. Those were both six-year stretches from between 1986-1991 and 1998-2003.

The Eagles have been impressive – if not dominant – in the league in the last 16 years (2007-2022), winning 76.5 percent of their games (101-31) and six titles. In that span, Eastern has had no league finish below 5-3 and five of them have included 7-1 or 8-0 records.

The remaining conference action includes additional road games at Idaho and Montana. Eastern will host Northern Colorado for Senior Day on Nov. 19. The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused headaches and the need for adaptation, but it did allow 11 seniors to participate in a sixth Fall. Among them is quarterback Gunner Talkington who was tabbed the front runner at quarterback following Fall camp.

Series History with Portland State
Eastern has a slim 22-20-1 lead in the all-time series, and Eastern has won the last five meetings, eight of the last nine and 10 of the last 12. Eastern is 8-11-1 at home against the Vikings and 1-0 in neutral site games. Eastern is 13-9 against the Vikings on the road in Portland, including victories in 2021 (42-28), 2018 (74-23), 2010 (50-17) and 2002 (27-24) at Hillsboro Stadium. Eastern has won the last six road games versus PSU (42-28 in 2021, 74-23 in 2018, 36-28 in 2016, 56-34 in 2014, 41-34 in 2012 and 50-17 in 2010), and hasn't lost there since falling 47-36 in the 2008 season. In fact, the road team has won 14 of the last 23 meetings, not including a 2009 neutral site game in Seattle. Prior to EWU's current five-game winning streak overall in the series, the longest previous streak by either team was by Portland State in the first four games of the series from 1968-71.

During Eastern's current five-game winning streak in the series, the Eagles have averaged 557.4 yards of offense (2,787 total), while besting the Vikings in scoring 263-158 (average score of 52-31). However, four of the five meetings from 2012-16 were decided by seven points or less, including a one-point win by the Eagles in 2013 (42-41) and a three-point loss in 2015 (34-31).

Eastern has wrapped up Big Sky Conference titles at PSU four times the Eagles have played the Vikings on the road. Victories in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 all ended with EWU celebrating in the locker room, as well as in 2020 at PSU when Eastern wrapped up a berth in the FCS Playoffs. The Eagles also won at home in 2013 to clinch a league title and berth, but in 2011, 2015 and 2019 the Eagles suffered late-season home losses which contributed to EWU missing out on the FCS Playoffs. In 2015, PSU wrapped up a bye in playoffs with a 34-31 victory over Eastern at Roos Field.

Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum played for Eastern under legendary head coach Dick Zornes, and graduated from EWU in 1987. He redshirted in 1982 and was on the roster in 1983 but didn't letter for the Eagles after coming from Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Wash. His nickname has stuck too -- in the '82 football media guide he was listed as "Barney" and the style of football played in PSU is called "Barnyball."

Until the 2020-21 campaign when Portland State opted out from playing, the teams played every year from 1990-2019. Portland State was a member of NCAA Division II when that streak of 30 seasons began, and the Vikings became a member of the Big Sky in 1996. Eastern leads the series 16-9 since then.

Eastern Now 68-2 Since 2010 When Winning the TO Battle
In the last 14+ seasons (2008-2022), the Eagles are now 68-2 when they've won the turnover battle, 25-11 when they've been tied and 26-39 when they've lost (total of 126-52).

However, Eastern's nearly 12-year, 63-game streak of winning the game when they won the turnover battle came to a halt on Nov. 6, 2021, versus Montana State when MSU had two turnovers to EWU's none. The last time EWU had lost a game 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. The second loss since 2010 came recently against Sacramento State when the Hornets had three turnovers to EWU's one on Oct. 15, 2022 in a 52-28 loss.

Thus, EWU is now 68-2 since 2010 when they've won the turnover battle, 22-11 when they've been tied and 24-31 when they've lost.

So far this season, EWU has won the turnover battle versus Tennessee State (3-1) with two forced fumbles and two recoveries, plus an interception by Tre Weed to end the game. They won the turnover battle to Sacramento State (3-1) with two interceptions by Marlon Jones Jr. and Kentrell Williams Jr., plus a forced fumble by Brock Harrison that was recovered by Demetrius Crosby Jr. They also won it against Cal Poly, 5-3, thanks to three interceptions by Ely Doyle, Keshaun King, and Demetrius Crosby Jr. They lost the turnover battle to Oregon, 2-0 and Montana State, 2-1.. They tied the turnover battle with Florida, 1-1, and with Weber State, 2-2.

In 2021, EWU won the turnover battle versus Central Washington (2-0), Western Illinois (1-0), Southern Utah (1-0), Northern Colorado (2-1), Idaho (3-0), Montana State (2-0), UC Davis (2-0), Portland State (2-0) and Northern Iowa (3-1), and lost to UNLV (3-2) and Weber State (3-2). The Eagles were tied versus Montana (2-2) on Oct. 2 but lost (0-2) on Dec. 3.

In 2020-21, EWU opened the year by falling to Idaho 28-21 after losing the turnover battle 2-1. Eastern beat Northern Arizona 45-13 on March 6, but also lost the turnover battle in that one, 3-0. Eastern beat Idaho State by both score (46-42) and the turnover battle (3-2). Eastern won the turnover battle 2-1 against Cal Poly on March 27, but lost 1-0 at UC Davis in a 32-22 victory on April 3. The Eagles closed the regular season by registered two four-quarter interceptions – the only turnovers of the game – in a 38-31 win over Idaho on April 10. In the FCS Playoffs, the lone turnover was an Eagle interception on offense as North Dakota State won the turnover battle 1-0.

EWU Has 54-Straight Seasons with a Road Win
Eastern ended the 2021 regular season with an eight-game regular season winning streak on the road, including a 38-20 win at UC Davis on Nov. 13 and 42-28 triumph at Portland State on Nov. 20. Eastern finished with its first unbeaten regular season road record since 1967 when the then-Savages were also 6-0.

Eastern had won the last two regular season road games in the 2020-21 winter/spring season to make up the streak. Prior to the Oregon loss on Sept. 10, the streak dated back to a 28-21 loss at Idaho on Feb. 27, and the lone blemish away from home since then was a 42-20 setback at North Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

A victory at UNLV extended EWU's current streak seasons with at least one road win to 53. A win at Cal Poly made it 54-straight. The streak includes all 38 seasons Eastern has been a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). The last time Eastern was winless on the road was 1969 when the then-Savages were 0-4 away from home and finished 4-5 on the season. EWU is 0-3 on the road this season.

At Western Illinois in 2021, Eastern extended its streak of seasons with at least two road wins to 28. Eastern has had at least two road wins in all but six seasons (1974, 1975, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1994) since 1969, including a current streak of 28-straight seasons with at least a pair. A win at Idaho or Montana this season could extend the streak.

Ten Eagles Have Made Their Starting Debuts This Season
Through seven games this season, 10 Eagles have made the first starts of their careers.    

Five Eagles, including a trio of transfers, made their first career starts for the Eagles against Tennessee State. On the defensive side, linebackers Derek Tommasini and Jaren Banks made their first starts in an Eagle uniform. Tommasini transferred in from Idaho and had seven tackles. Banks, a Rice transfer, ended with seven as well.

On the offensive side, Seth Carnahan who also transferred from Idaho, started at right tackle. Brenden River, a sophomore, earned the start at right guard. Justice Jackson started at running back and was second on the team with 23 rushing yards.

Against Oregon, redshirt freshman Tuna Altahir made the start at running back.

Micah Smith made his first career start at running back against Montana State. Smith totaled career-highs with 114 rushing yards on 13 carries, plus two touchdowns and a career-long rush of 56 yards. It was the first 100+ rushing yard game of his career.

A trio of defensive players made their starting debuts at Florida, in Conner O'Farrell and Trevor Thurman at linebacker, plus Soli Paleso'o at tackle. O'Farrell racked up four tackles and Thurman had one.

Current Starts on Defense (259 starts by 21 players): Mitchell Johnson 37, Tre Weed 32, Darrien Sampson 27, Joshua Jerome 25, Anthany Smith 16, Ely Doyle 16, Debore'ae McClain 14, Marlon Jones Jr. 14, Brock Harrison 13, Matthew Brown 12, Caleb Davis 9, Keshaun King 8, Jacob Newsom 7, Derek Tommasini 7, Demetrius Crosby Jr. 6, Jaren Banks 5, Conner O'Farrell 4, Soli Paleso'o 3, Trevor Thurman 2, Cage Schenck 1, Ahmani Williams 1.

Current Starts on Offense (170 starts by 19 players): Freddie Roberson 26, Wyatt Hansen 25,  Wyatt Musser 24, Dylan Ingram 21, Efton Chism III 16, Luke Dahlgren 9, Gunner Talkington 8, Matthew Hewa Baddege 7, Jakobie James 7, Brenden Rivera 7, Seth Carnahan 5,  Anthony Stell Jr. 4, Blake Gobel 4, Andrei Leonardi 4, Tuna Altahir 4, Nolan Ulm 3, Brad Godwin 2, Micah Smith 2, Robert Mason III 1, Justice Jackson 1.

Eagles Have Won 79 Percent of Their Last 122 Big Sky Conference Games
Eastern has had 24 winning seasons in the last 26 years (1996-2021), including a current school record string of 15-straight (2007-21) and another stretch of seven straight (1999-2005). The last time Eastern had that many winning seasons in a row came 75 years earlier in the Red Reese era when Eastern had a string of 11-straight winning seasons from 1931-1941.

A major reason for Eastern's stretch of winning seasons is success in the Big Sky Conference. In finishing 6-2 in the league in the 2021 season, Eastern has now won at least five conference games in the last 16 seasons, with a 6-2 or better finish (75 percent) in 13 of those 16. Since EWU's last losing league season in 2006 (3-5), the Eagles are 95-26 for a .785 winning percentage in 15 seasons (including 2022). Starting with three wins at the end of the 2009 season, Eastern has had a 81-18 record (.818) in league games since then.

Through the 2022 season (1-3 record), the Eagles have won 71 of their last 87 Big Sky Conference games (81.6 percent) since an 0-2 start in 2011. Included are stretches of 61 victories in the last 76 games (including two at the end of the 2012 season) and 39 of the last 50 (since 2016).

At one point the Eagles had won 44 of 50 league games, and the only Big Sky school which has come close to that in the 58-year history of the league was Montana, which won 50 of 55 games from 1995-2002 and 46 of 51 from 2003-2009. Weber State won 26 of 29 during a recent four-year stretch (2017-20/21) as league champions.

 Including four non-conference victories (two versus MSU, and one each against Cal Poly and Northern Arizona), two playoff wins (Montana and UC Davis) and one loss (Idaho), the Eagles are 77-16 (.828) against conference foes since the 0-2 start in 2011 and 67-13 (.838) since winning the last three games at the end of the 2012 campaign (one a non-conference win over Cal Poly).

What is perhaps most impressive is Eastern's ability to consistently win on the road versus conference foes, with records of 33-9 (79 percent) on the road, 34-6 at home (85 percent) and 67-15 overall (82 percent) in the last eight-plus seasons since ending 2012 with three wins versus fellow BSC foes. From 2012-2019, Eastern defeated every Big Sky team on the road at least once, including former Big Sky member North Dakota and a 2012 non-league road victory at Idaho, which re-joined the league in 2018. Until losing at Southern Utah in October of 2017, the Eagles had won their previous road game versus all 13 other league members.

Eastern secured its 10th Big Sky title in 2018 and in the 2021 season EWU earned its 15th berth in the FCS Playoffs in what is now 38 years as a member of the FCS (formerly I-AA) and 34 seasons in the Big Sky.