You won't have to wait until September to get your Eagle football fix.
 
For the first time in two years, the Eastern Washington University football team will be playing in its annual Red-White Spring game. Kickoff is set for this Saturday, April 30, at 1:05 p.m. at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.
 
Admission and parking for the event is free, and the gates open at noon. The game will be broadcast regionally on SWX and ESPN+ with Dennis Patchin as the play-by-play and Mike Peterson as the color analyst.
 
Fans are permitted to tailgate in the upper parking lot (Lot P12) behind the stadium. Spaces are on a first come, first serve, basis. The upper concession stand behind the press box will be open. Following the game, the team, along with cheerleaders and Swoop, are available for photos and autographs down on the field – weather permitting.
 
The Eagles completed their Red-White draft on Tuesday evening. Associate head coach and tight ends coach Marc Anderson will be the Red team's head coach, and defensive coordinator Jeff Copp will take the helm of the White team, with the rest of the assistant coaches being split in two. Head coach Aaron Best will remain neutral, spending the week observing both sides.
 
Captains for the Red team are Anthany Smith, Freddie Roberson, Caleb Davis and Andre Leonardi. The White team captains are Wyatt Musser, Marlon Jones Jr., Silas Perreiah and Joshua Jerome. The captains will not be competing in the game.
 
A coin toss determined the first pick of the draft, and from there each team had to draft the position that the opposing team picked. For example, if the Red team drafted a quarterback, the White team had to draft a quarterback. Then if the White team drafted a safety, so did the Red team. Each side had 15 seconds to make their pick.
 
Additionally, any defensive ends and linebackers are listed as "all-time" players, meaning they will play on both the Red and the White team. Quarterbacks for the Red team are Gunner Talkington, Simon Burkett and Ryan Kelley. White team quarterbacks are Kekoa Visperas and Trey Turner.  
 
The team will play three 15-minute quarters with a running clock until the final two minutes of the third quarter. Each team will have two timeouts per quarter, with a seven minute and 30 second break in-between periods. Special teams will not be live, and forced turnovers are an extra three points.
 
The Eagles saw live action for the first time since December in the team's lone scrimmage on April 23. The offense totaled 337 total yards, including 98 on the ground and 229 through the air, and did not concede a turnover in the 60-play scrimmage. Defensive play was highlighted by three sacks, including one from Mitchell Johnson on the game's final drive. There was a total of four touchdowns in the game, plus two field goals for 34 points. Five quarterbacks saw action, led by Ryan Kelley who had two touchdowns and completed five of his seven pass attempts for 81 yards. Gunner Talkington was 6-of-10 for 72 yards plus a touchdown.

2021 Spring Football: Scrimmage Statistics 4/23/22

Total Offense: Rushing 30-98, Receiving 14-229, Totals 60 plays, 337 yards

Scoring Plays: 4 Touchdowns, 2 Field Goals = 34 Points
Josh Johnson 16-yard pass from Ryan Kelley (Seth Harrison kick)
Nolan Ulm 12-yard pass from Gunner Talkington (Jackson Cleaver kick)
Wyatt Hawkins 29-yard field goal
Davante Smith 5-yard touchdown run (Seth Harrison kick)
Brandon Montoya 10-yard pass from Ryan Kelley (Jackson Cleaver kick)
Wyatt Hawkins 28-yard field goal

Rushing: Justice Jackson 6-7, Brandon Montoya 3-9, Micah Smith 3-8, Davante Smith 7-35, Tuna Altahir 2-5, Gunner Talkington 1-minus-4, Trey Turner 1-13, Ryan Kelley 2-13, Kekoa Visperas 4-13, Simon Burkett 1-minus-1

Passing: Gunner Talkington 6-10-72 1 TD, Ryan Kelley 5-7-81 2 TDs, Kekoa Visperas 3-8-78, Simon Burkett 0-3, Trey Turner 0-2

Receiving: Jakobie James 1-15, Robert Mason III 4-105, Isaiah Howard 1-8, Josh Johnson 3-40, Anthony Stell Jr. 1-12, Blake Gobel 1-16, Nolan Ulm 1-12, Micah Smith 1-11, Brandon Montoya 9-10

Total Tackles: Ahmani Williams 6, Warren Hardin 4, Jordan Prunty 4, Sean Skladany 4, Adrian Taylor 4, Mitchell Johnson 3, Ely Doyle 3, Armani Orange 3, Daniel Taumoepeau 3, Kentrell Williams Jr. 2, Brock Harrison 2, Soli Paleso'o 2, Collin Fujimoto-Young 2, Darrien Sampson 1, Keshaun King 1, Darreon Moore 1, Cage Schenck 1, Joseph Obeto 1, Demetrius Crosby Jr. 1, Chad Vidican 1, Taalefili Fata 1, Jacob Newsom 1

Interceptions: None

Sacks: Mitchell Johnson 1, Keshaun King 1, Soli Paleso'o 1

Tackles for Loss: Mitchell Johnson 1, Ely Doyle 1

Passes Broken Up: Cage Schenck 2, Darrien Sampson 1, Joseph Obeto 1, Daniel Taumoepeau 1

Quarterback Hurries: Mitchell Johnson 1, Keshaun King 1, Adrian Taylor 1