Sewell, Ewu Run Wild In Texas Third-String Back Runs For Three Scores As Eastern Prevails In Opener, 34-16

Eastern Washington football coaches had talked about the importance of establishing a running game.

Joe Sewell and the Eagles’ offensive line were listening. Thursday night, the Southwest Texas State defense was mostly watching.

Sewell, listed as the third-string tailback on the EWU depth chart, rushed for 173 of the Eagles’ 281 net rushing yards in a 34-16 season-opening rout of the Bobcats.

Sewell scored three touchdowns, including back-breaking runs of 67 and 68 yards in the third quarter, and put the game out of reach with a 7-yarder up the middle in the fourth.

“It was all our offensive line,” Sewell said. “We told you they were good.”

Indeed, he had. After last week’s final scrimmage, the senior said the line would allow EWU to “surprise some people.”

It was Southwest Texas that did the surprising early in this one. Claude Mathis put the Bobcats ahead 7-0 with a 79-yard TD run just 21 seconds into the game. He finished with 228 yards on 26 carries. A field goal stretched SWT’s lead to 10-0, and the Eagles appeared in trouble.

But linebacker Dion Alexander, who came on after missing several tackles early, sparked EWU twice. First, the senior blocked a Bobcats punt to set up a 69-yard scoring pass from Brian Sherick to Jerrold Jackson with 3:48 before halftime.

Less than 2 minutes later, Alexander forced an SWT fumble, which teammate Derek Strey recovered to set up a 35-yard scoring strike from Sherick to Tobin Phelps for a 14-10 EWU lead.

“We were OK once we settled down and played better defense,” second-year Eagles coach Mike Kramer said. “It wasn’t in terms of the linemen playing hard, but once we started playing tackle football, our defense was pretty dominant.”

Sherick’s numbers were hardly spectacular - 9 of 18 for 146 yards - but the sophomore from University High School made the right choices more often than not in his first game as a college starter. Sherick threw just one interception, a pass that bounced off the chest of all-conference tight end Jesse Hardt.

“I know I can do better,” Sherick said, “but for a first start, we got a win and that’s what counts.”

Sewell relieved starter David Lewis (24 carries, 81 yards) and backup Rex Prescott (6-20). Sewell’s performance in his first game back after major knee surgery a year ago cements the tailback position as one of EWU’s strongest.

“His long runs were daggers in the heart,” Kramer said. “(SWT) was up on the line, and it’s one of those do-or-die situations. Joe turned it into a die.”

The Bobcats were held to three field goals on five trips inside the Eagles’ 30-yard line.

The game was delayed by lightning for more than 1 hour, starting with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter.