EWU and the Big Sky, Week One

This being an election year, I can report that we have results in a few football precincts, and the early trend is red.

Fan exit polls show a strong defense in Cheney, uncertainty in Missoula and Portland, and mixed results from North Dakota to San Luis Obispo.

But as they say, the only poll that matters is the one in November (that would be the final FBS poll before the playoffs), though Eastern Washington has already gone into the fall campaign with a lot of momentum.

I don't even like politics, but I couldn't resist the analogy. Scanning the Big Sky Conference, the Eagles certainly had the most impressive showing in their 20-3 win at FBS Idaho. In case you missed it, here is John Wright's game story , and my sidebar focusing on the EWU defense. The Eagles get a bigger challenge Saturday in Pullman against a Washington State team that fell 30-6 at BYU. Here is Christian Caple's postgame story on WSU and his day-after piece as the Cougars prepare for the Eagles. Game time is noon and tickets are scarce for a game that from the Eagles' perspective has moved from a pretty sure loss to a plausible win. I'd say it's still a tall order, but in one night, the Eagles' chances went from wishful to plausible. More on that after Labor Day, but here's a quick look at the rest of the Big Sky, including Montana's 35-24 win over South Dakota, a look at  Montana State's young offensive line and their performance in a 33-6 win over Division II Chadron State, and Portland State's struggle with NAIA Carroll College.The Vikings finally pulled away to win 38-20, but that score gives pause here in P-Town, my hometown where I am spending the weekend. Elsewhere, it was the usual FBS-FCS fare, with Weber State losing 37-10 at Air Force, Idaho State getting mauled at Air Force, and Northern Arizona overrun by Arizona State. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!