CHENEY, Wash. — The calendar has changed to October and Eastern Washington University is celebrating homecoming the first week of the new month. EWU football is a staple of homecoming week and hosts Portland State on Saturday at 4 p.m. to cap off the festivities.
Tickets are going fast for the homecoming game, but fans still have a chance to purchase online through the link HERE.
Following the game against the Vikings, fans can enjoy postgame fireworks from their seats and on the field! The exact time of the display will depend upon the length of the game, but is anticipated to start about 15 minutes after the final whistle and both teams have vacated the field, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The fireworks will be launched from the practice field, just west of the EWU soccer field, and we anticipate the display lasting about 15 minutes. EWU athletics and alumni associations are working with the Cheney Fire Department, Cheney Police Department, and EWU Police Department to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all.
The game will be broadcast live on SWX and is streamed on ESPN+. Fans can also tune in to the game for all the live action on 700 ESPN and Varsity App with the voices of the Eagles, Larry Weir and Paul Sorensen.
Eastern Washington is 0-1 in the Big Sky and 1-4 overall this season, going 1-0 at Roos Field. PSU is 0-1 in conference and 0-5 overall, with an 0-3 mark on the road.
Last Time Out
Eastern Washington traveled for its first Big Sky game of the season on Saturday, facing No. 4/6 Montana State. The Bobcats took control early in the game and won 57-3. MSU scored on their first 4 possessions, including their first 3 were for touchdowns. EWU trailed 24-0 after the first quarter. Eastern scored its first points on a Soren McKee 21-yard field goal. The Bobcats went into halftime with a 30-3 advantage. They continued to score in the second half, producing touchdowns on 3, third quarter drives.
In the game, MSU out-gained the Eagles, 580 to 207 in total yards. Eastern mustered only 83 rushing yards and 124 passing yards. The Bobcats had a balanced approach with 293 yards on the ground and 287 through the air. Read Sunn led the Eagles with 9 tackles, while Nate Bell carried the ball 13 times for 41 yards. Wesley Garrett had two receptions for 45 yards.
Dead-Even Against the Vikings
Eastern Washington and Portland State have literally split the series against each other. The series record sits at 22-22-1, with the winner on Saturday taking the lead in the rivalry. EWU is 9-11-1 at home against the Vikings, while being 12-11 away and 1-0 at a neutral site. PSU has the advantage recently, winning the last two matchups. The teams played in 2023 in Portland, with the Vikings taking the matchup, 47-35. In the game, Eastern trailed by double-digits going into the 3rd quarter, but mounted a comeback in the 4th. They pulled within 6 with under 5 minutes to go, but PSU responded promptly with a long touchdown run to seal the win. Kekoa Visperas passed for 285 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Efton Chism III caught 9 passes for 130 yards and 1 touchdown.
Take a Pick
The Eagles have recorded an interception in 3 consecutive games, the longest streak since 2023 when they had interceptions in 5 consecutive games (9/9/23-10/14/23). Ambrose Marsh extended the streak against Montana State with an interception in the fourth quarter, the first of his career. Jaylon Jenkins started the streak against Northern Iowa, making the pick in the redzone. Dre Greeley notched his first career interception against Western Illinois, returning it 46 yards to the WIU 4-yard line and setting up an EWU touchdown.
Jenkins Swatting It
Holding it down in the secondary, Jaylon Jenkins has developed a strong ability and defending passes. Jenkins is tied for the Big Sky lead with five pass breakups, averaging 1 a game. The redshirt-sophomore found his first career interception against Northern Iowa. Jenkins had a career-best 2 pass breakups against Western Illinois. This season, Jenkins has been all over the field, tying for fourth on the team with 22.0 tackles making 16 solo.
Blocking Fever
EWU's special teams have posted 4 blocked kicks this season and is tied for 2nd in the FCS in blocked kicks with Western Illinois, while Norfolk State leads the nation with 5. The Eagles are one of 31 teams to have a blocked punt this season. The Eagles had a 3-game block streak, the longest since the 2014 season when the Eagles blocked a kick or punt in 4 consecutive games, 3 punts and 1 PAT. Against Montana State, Isaiah Perez blocked a Bobcats field goal attempt, giving the redshirt-junior 2 blocks this season.
The Bell Score
Nate Bell leads the charge in scoring for Eastern, accounting for 6 total touchdowns - all rushing - and has converted two, two-point conversions, both passing. Bell is responsible for 40 points this season, averaging 7.0 points per game. He ranks 4th in the Big Sky in touchdowns and 7th in overall scoring. In addition, Bell leads the Eagles in rushing, putting up 310 yards on 55 carries for a 5.6 yards per carry average. The redshirt-sophomore has thrown 2 touchdowns at QB and has 523 yards passing.
Pressure Up
Eastern's defense continues to improve at generating pressure on quarterbacks in 2025, recording multiple sacks in 4-of-5 games this season. EWU delivered 3 sacks against Montana St. to begin conference play. It was the second consecutive game Eastern has recorded 3 sacks. Ben Voigtlaender and Samarai Anderson both notched their first career sacks as Eagles. Isaiah Perez and Trevor Thurman combined for the team's 3rd sack. EWU has 10 sacks this season, led by 2.0 from Read Sunn, while 8 Eagles in total have recorded a sack this season. The team ranks 4th in the Big Sky and 40th in the FCS. The defense adds 6 QB hurries as well, led by 2 from Sunn and Tylin Jackson.
2025 EWU football tickets are now on sale! Join Spokane County's team for all five home games at Roos Field in Cheney starting as low as $99. Group tickets, fundraising options and single game tickets are also available. For more info, visit goeags.com/fbtickets or contact the EWU Ticket Office at 509-359-6059 or tickets@ewu.edu.
Join the Eagle Athletic Fund for as low as $50 per year! Support Eagle student-athletes on and off the field while enjoying exclusive EAF perks such as season ticket and tailgating priority, invitations to special events, exclusive access, and more. Visit goeags.com/eaf for more information.
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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