CHENEY, Wash. — The wait is finally over for Eagle fans as Eastern Washington football is back home for the first game on Roos Field. Eastern will face Western Illinois in the team's home opener on Saturday, Sep. 20 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time.
Saturday's game will be Welcome Weekend and Rush Roos for Eastern students and family.
The game will be broadcast live on SWX and streamed live on ESPN+. Listen to the game live on 700 ESPN and the Varsity App with the voices of the Eagles, Larry Weir and Paul Sorensen.
Fans can purchase tickets to the game online at GoEags.com/Tickets.
Last Time Out
Eastern Washington battled for the third-consecutive week on the road against Northern Iowa. Despite an early deficit, EWU rallied to pull within three of the Panthers, but could not complete the comeback, falling 17-14. UNI scored on the first play of the game; a 79 touchdown pass. The Eagle defense tightened up and held the Panthers in check for most of the half. They bent as time expired in the half, surrendering a 28-yard field goal for a 10-0 deficit. EWU's offense could not put together a drive to produce any points.
In the third quarter, UNI broke the defensive battle with a 63-yard touchdown strike and extended their lead to 17-0. Beginning in the fourth quarter, Nate Bell engineered a drive to get the Eagles into the Panthers redzone, scoring on a 15-yard touchdown and the team's first points. On UNI's ensuing drive, Eastern's defense forced a stop and then would block the put to set themselves up with good field position. Bell found a lane again, this time scrambling for 40 yards and his second touchdown of the game. UNI was able to halt the Eagles comeback effort on their next drive and secured the home win.
2nd Time Against the Leathernecks
Eastern Washington and Western Illinois will play for only the second time in history, with the previous matchup during the 2021 season. The game was a barn-burner, as Eastern prevailed, 62-56 in the matchup in Macomb, Ill. The Eagles put up a then-DI record 754 yards of total offense in week three of the season. Eric Barriere threw for 487 yards in the first half, a FCS record, and finished with 542 total in the air, tossing 6 touchdowns. Dennis Merritt rushed 12 times for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns as well. WIU is 1-2 this season, losing to No. 12 Illinois, 52-3 to start the season, followed by a 42-7 loss to Northwestern. The Leathernecks defeated Valparaiso, 51-30 at home last week.
First Start
Nate Bell got the call at quarterback against Northern Iowa, making his first collegiate start. Leading the offense, Bell completed 21-of-35(60%) passes for 159 yards, with a long completion of 21 yards to Cole Pruett. Bell did damage with his legs, rushing 14 times for 89 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, Bell helped lead an Eagle comeback, sparking the effort with a 15-yard touchdown. On Eastern's next drive, Bell further showed his speed, scrambling for a 40-yard touchdown and cutting the UNI lead down to 3. With 2:23 left in the game, Bell organized an 11 play, 58-yard drive to put the Eagles in field goal range, but the kick missed and the comeback fell short. Bell is the team's leading rusher, with 135 yards and a 5.2 yards per carry average. He leads the Eagles in points with 3 rushing touchdowns.
Blocking Fever
The Eagles have blocked a kick in 3 consecutive games, as Bryce Smith blocked a punt in the 4th quarter against Northern Iowa. Previously, Isaiah Perez blocked a field goal against Incarnate Word and Jirah Leaupepetele blocked an extra point against Boise State. Perez's blocked field goal in week 1 was Eastern's first blocked kick since the 2023 season against Montana State (11/11). EWU is tied for 2nd in the FCS in blocked kicks with Alabama State and New Hampshire, while Norfolk State leads the nation with 4. The Eagles are one of 18 teams to have a blocked punt this season. The 3-game block streak is the longest since the 2014 season when the Eagles blocked a kick or punt in 4 consecutive games, 3 punts and 1 PAT.
Career Firsts Against the Panthers
Several players on defense recorded firsts this past game against Northern Iowa. Most notably, redshirt-sophomore Jaylon Jenkins snatched his first career interception in the second quarter, picking off the Panthers' Matthew Schecklman. Redshirt-freshman Ambrose Marsh had two firsts, getting his first sack and forced fumble. redshirt-sophomore Samarai Anderson was the beneficiary of Marsh's forced fumble, as Anderson earned his first career fumble recovery. Junior Isaac Redford made his first career tackles for the Eagles, finishing with 4. Defensive back Jaden Price and defensive lineman Jheison Saunds each posted their first career tackle.
One More Ride for Ulm
Nolan Ulm has one more season on the Red and looks to go out with a statement. Ulm has 1175 career receiving yards, with 99 receptions and 10 touchdowns. During the 2023 season, Ulm had career-bests with 45 receptions and 564 yards, while matching his career-best with 4 touchdowns. Going into his final year, Ulm was listed as the No. 9 Canadian-born prospect by CFL Scouting Bureau. The redshirt-senior had 2 receptions for 16 yards in week 3, and has 9 catches for 73 yards in 2025. He has appeared in 48 games, making 22 starts.
Ulm makes just as crucial of an impact off the field as he is involved with numerous charities including Mamas for Mamas that supports single mothers, Helping Captives that supports victims of human trafficking and Touchdowns for Dollars that benefits the local YMCA. Ulm also runs his own youth football camp, named Make it Happen, in his hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia. On Tuesday, Ulm was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of 10 FCS players to earn the honor that recognizes student-athletes' success and dedication on-and-off the field. He was nominated for the William V. Campbell award.
Sunn Solidifies Playing Time
Read Sunn has emerged as a key staple of the Eagle defense, ranking 4th on the team with 16.0 tackles. He set a new career-best for tackles for the 3rd consecutive game this past weekend, notching 7 against Northern Iowa. The change of scenery has benefited Sunn with more playing time, as he has surpassed his career tackle total from Wyoming(14). Sunn transferred from Laramie this past winter. Since arriving, Sunn has also recorded his first career sack and forced fumble.
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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