Ewu Avoids Sting Of Upset Hornets Bounce Back To Give Eagles A Scare Before Falling 21-18

No matter how many times the critics rearrange the letters in Sacramento State, they will never be able to spell the word “quit.”

Eastern Washington learned that lesson Saturday night at Woodward Stadium, squandering most of an 18-point halftime cushion before linebacker Dion Alexander and the EWU defense made just enough plays on Sac State’s last-gasp drive to escape with a 21-18 non-conference football victory.

“It was hard,” said Alexander, who made a game-high 15 tackles. “We had to dig deep inside. And we learned a few things. You can’t think you’re up 14 and they’re going to give it to us. Thank God that the effort was there.”

Sac State (0-2) endured a 62-7 beating at Northern Arizona last week, and appeared headed to a similar fate when EWU tailback David Lewis gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead with a 68-yard burst over the right side on the game’s second play from scrimmage. On EWU’s next offensive play, sophomore quarterback Brian Sherick found a streaking Jerrold Jackson, the Eagles’ fastest player, for a 69-yard touchdown with 10:41 still to play in the opening quarter.

“Everything was clicking early,” Jackson said. “They just stepped up and we let off the pedal a little.”

The Hornets managed a field goal on the ensuing possession, but EWU (2-0) stretched its lead to 21-3 late in the half, Sherick capping a 13-play, 89-yard drive with a 21-yard scoring pass to Jackson in the left corner of the end zone. Sherick’s pass was perfect, and Jackson made an over-the-head catch that left Sac State cornerback Marcellus Nabors shaking his head.

Trailing 21-3 at the half, it would have been a perfect time for Sac State to quit, just lay down. In 30 minutes, the Hornets had watched Lewis rack up 107 yards on just six carries. Jackson, meanwhile, had three catches for 108 yards. Under first-year coach Mike Volek, however, there would be no quitting. Quite the opposite.

Sac State was only getting started. EWU suddenly couldn’t find the offense that had seemed so easy - perhaps too easy - in the first half. The Eagles managed just 20 rushing yards after halftime, and were outgained 215-110 overall in the last two quarters. The EWU offensive line, minus injured all-Big Sky Conference tackle Tom Ackerman, couldn’t handle Sac State’s second-half persistence. And Hornets quarterback Tony Corbin took advantage of the Eagles’ vulnerable secondary.

It all added up to some very tense moments for second-year head coach Mike Kramer and the Eagles, who were admittedly spoiled by the success enjoyed during last week’s 34-16 victory over a Southwest Texas team that appeared to give up.

Sac State pulled within 21-10 with 2:43 left in the third quarter, Corbin finding tight end Reynold Morris for a 30-yard score on fourth-and-2. The touchdown punctuated a nine-play, 84-yard drive that stayed alive, in part, thanks to two EWU penalties a 15-yard personal foul on second-and-19 and a pass-interference penalty on the next play.

“We made a lot of mental mistakes out there,” said Alexander, the only senior starter on defense. “We’re so young. A lot of guys got out there and were not really nervous, but just trying (too hard) to make things happen.”

The teams exchanged futile drives until Marvin Brown, the Hornets’ most skilled cornerback, returned Tom Zurfluh’s 36-yard punt 73 yards to the EWU 11-yard line. Three plays later, on third-and-6, Corbin rifled a quick pass over the middle to Mitch Oliver. The pass was high, leaving Oliver vulnerable to a big hit, but the 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver hauled it in with ease. The two-point conversion on a halfback pass cut EWU’s lead to 21-18 with 8:04 to play.

“It’s not like we quit or were lolly-gagging around out there,” Kramer said. “We were trying hard. But credit Sac State. They outfought us. They were on the mat 14-0 early, but they got up and kicked butt.”

The EWU defense limited Sac State to three plays and a punt on the Hornets’ next series, and a 15-yard facemask penalty against Sac State gave Sherick and the offense possession at the opponents’ 24 with 4:59 remaining.

But Lewis fumbled on the Eagles’ first play, and Hornets linebacker Damien Mason recovered.

What happened after the Lewis gaffe kept the crowd of 4,872 from leaving early. Corbin directed a 13-play drive consuming nearly 4 minutes, a drive that included three fourth-down conversions, the big one coming when Oliver beat Ryan Moore for a 53-yard pickup to the Eagles’ 14. Linebacker Derek Strey saved EWU, intercepting Corbin on second down with 49 seconds left.

EWU 21, Sacramento St. 18

Sacramento St. 3 0 7 8 - 18

E. Wash. 14 7 0 0 - 21

EWU Lewis 68 run (Zurfluh kick) EWU Jackson 69 pass from Sherick (Zurfluh kick) SSU FG Becker 38 EWU Jackson 21 pass from Sherick (Zurfluh kick) SSU Morris 30 pass from Corbin (Becker kick) SSU Oliver 7 pass from Corbin (Daubin pass from Zarate)

A-4,872

SSU EWU First downs 17 17 Rushes-yards 33-71 31-131 Passing 323 267 Return yards 101 130 Comp-Att-Int 23-46-1 20-33-0 Punts 7-291 8-296 Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1 Penalties-yards 12-111 9-74 Time of possession 33:08 26:52

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHINGSSU, Stewart 21-61, Zarate 5-14, Corbin 7-minus 4. EWU, Lewis 15-112, Sewell 10-23, Sherick-minus 2, Prescott 4-minus 2.

PASSINGSSU, Corbin 23-45-1-323, Stewart 0-1-0-0. EWU, Sherick 20-32-0-267-0, Bond 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVINGSSU, Richardson 9-59, Oliver 7-171, Estrada 3-52, Morris 3-38, Stewart 1-3. EWU, Jackson 6-142, Hardt 5-46, Hunsaker 3-18, Lewis 3-14, Phelps 1-29, Prescott 1-9, Sewell 1-9.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 Color)