CHENEY, Wash. — In a rare occurrence, Eastern Washington football is at Roos Field for the second consecutive week to start the season. EWU is 1-0 going into week two of the season as they host the Drake Bulldogs on Saturday, September 7, with kickoff at 4 p.m. Pacific Time.
Tickets can be purchased online through the link Here or by calling the EWU Ticket office at 509-359-6059.
Saturday's game will be aired live on SWX with Austin Getz and Adam Shackleford on the call. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Listen live to the game on 700 ESPN and the Varsity App with the voices of the Eagles, Larry Weir and Paul Sorensen.
First Time for Everything
For the first time in program history, Eastern Washington will play two home games against FCS opponents to start the season in Monmouth and Drake. The Eagles last had two home games to open the season in 2007, playing Mountain Western (NAIA) and UC Davis. They will play two games at home to start the season for the sixth time since moving to Division I (1984, 1987, 1990, 1997, '07). In each time prior to this season, one of the first two games was against a lower division opponent. It is the first time on the Red Turf the Eagles will play two home games to open the season.
Last Time Out
The Eagles opened their 2024 season this past Thursday night against the Monmouth Hawks. Eastern raced out to a 14-0 lead with a touchdown catch from Efton Chism III and a run from Jared Taylor. The Hawks then tied the game in the second quarter. EWU countered with 28-straight points to build a four-touchdown lead. Monmouth scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull closer, but the Eagle lead was too much to overcome. Kentrell Williams Jr. sealed the game, coming up with an interception with under two minutes to play in the game.
The team was led by a balanced offense, split between 282 passing yards and 278 rushing. Kekoa Visperas finished with a career-high five touchdown passes and an 89.3 completion percentage (25-for-28). Chism set his own career-high with 173 receiving yards, hauling in 12 catches and three touchdowns.
Chism Above the Rest
With already a prolific career at Eastern, Efton Chism III looks to cement his legacy in his senior season with the Eagles. Chism sits in a tie for second in EWU history with 5.51 receptions per game, totaling 238 that ranks third. He moved into eighth all-time in receiving yards, passing Talolo Limu-Jones, with 2.714 after a career-best 173 against Monmouth. Chism scored three touchdowns to tie Kendrick Bourne for seventh on the all-time list. After the career game, Chism was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
Winning in Turnovers
The turnover battle is key in any game and Eastern Washington knows this first hand. Since 2010, EWU is 72-6 when winning the turnover margin. Eastern won the turnover battle in the season opener against Monmouth, 1-0, by way of Kentrell Williams Jr. fourth-quarter interception.
Stout Up Front
Eastern Washington's defense held Monmouth to 49 yards rushing on 21 carries and one touchdown in the first game. It was the lowest rushing yards allowed since October 12, 2023 against Idaho State, when the Bengals also rushed for 49 yards, with three touchdowns. The Eagle defense had three tackles for loss with one sack. Dishawn Misa had the lone sack and Matthew Brown had one tackle for loss as well. Eastern allowed 232.8 rushing yards per game in '23.
Finishing the Job in the Redzone
Eastern was a perfect 5-for-5 in redzone opportunities against Monmouth, scoring touchdowns each time. It was the first time the Eagles scored five or more touchdowns in the redzone since November 21, 2021 against Portland State (6-for-6).
New to the Punt
EWU will have to replace its All-Conference punter in Nick Kokich, who ranked sixth in school history with average yards per punt (41.2). In line to replace Kokich is Fresno State transfer Landon Ogles. While at Fresno, Ogles did not participate in a game for the Bulldogs, but set the school record at Palomar College (San Diego, Calif.) for the longest field goal of 57 yards. In the season opener against Monmouth, Ogles punted three times, placing all three inside the 20-yard line for 96 total yards (32.0 average).
The Eagles open the 2024 regular season on Aug. 29 vs. Monmouth! Season tickets for the 2024 football season are now available. Ticket packages can be purchased online via your Paciolan account, over the phone at 509-359-6059, or by emailing tickets@ewu.edu.
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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