HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Eastern Washington defense couldn't slow down the Portland State rushing attack on Saturday afternoon, falling on the road, 47-35 in the Dam Cup rivalry game. Viking running back Jobi Malary ran for 241 yards and 6 touchdowns, tying a PSU school record. Eastern running back Justice Jackson also had a career day, leading the Eagles with 126 yards and a score on 15 carries, while receiver Efton Chism III finished with 9 catches for 130 yards and 1 TD.
Eastern trailed 20-10 at the half and 27-13 at the end of the third quarter before a wild fourth that saw 39 combined points (19 for EWU), two onside kick recoveries and multiple turnovers. The Eagles were unable to make a critical stop down the stretch as Portland State ripped off long rushing touchdowns of 75 and 44 yards.
Down 41-22 with 8:57 left, the Eagles drove the field in seven plays and just 1:08 of game time as Jackson plunged into the endzone from two yards out to make it 41-28 (a two-point conversion attempt failed). Eastern recovered the ensuing onside kick, then efficiently moved the ball down the field once again, scoring again in seven plays (1:59), capped by a 22-yard reception by receiver
Nolan Ulm. The score made it a 6-point lead with nearly five minutes remaining and the momentum held by the Eagles.
Unfortunately, the pressure was short lived. Mallary took off down the left sideline for his sixth touchdown on first play of Portland State's next drive, icing the game. A deflected
Kekoa Visperas pass attempt fell into the hands of a Viking defender on the next Eagle drive, sealing the Eagles' fate for good.
Visperas finished 26-for-41 passing for 285 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT, while PSU's Dante Chachere completed 10-of-13 passes for 141 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Chachere added 88 yards rushing on 13 attempts.
The loss drops Eastern to 3-5 overall (2-3 in Big Sky play) while the Vikings improve to 4-4 (3-2). It's the second-straight loss to Portland State, evening the all-time series between the two programs at 22-22-1.
The Eagles will return home to Roos Field to face Cal Poly, led by former EWU head coach Paul Wulff, on Saturday, Nov. 4 (1 p.m.). It will be Hometown Heroes day at Roos as the Eagles will recognize local military, law enforcement and other first responders throughout the game.
Tickets are available at goeags.com.
Gallery: (10-30-2023) Football - EWU at Portland State
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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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