Eagles Lose One Spot; Nau Game A Big One

Setting up a Big Sky Conference showdown with Northern Arizona Saturday in Cheney, Eastern Washington was ranked 20th in the Sports Network NCAA Division I-AA football poll Monday.

The Eagles (6-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Sky) fell only one spot after losing 37-27 at Division I-A Idaho last Saturday. Northern Arizona (8-2, 5-1) is ranked sixth.

Conference-leading Montana continues to be ranked second.

The showdown at 1 p.m. at Woodward Stadium has playoff implications. Eastern needs to win its final two games - against NAU and Cal State Northridge - to finish second. The Lumberjacks could wrap up second and a playoff berth with a win over the Eagles.

Northern Arizona leads I-AA in total offense, averaging 533.9 yards per game. Running back Archie Amerson leads the conference and I-AA with a Big Sky-record 1,912 rushing yards that already ranks as the third-best performance in I-AA history. Eastern’s Joe Sewell is second in the conference and 27th nationally with 968 rushing yards as he tries to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are available by calling (509) 359-4339 or (800) 648-7697.

Vikings QB honored

Portland State quarterback Matt O’Connor is the Big Sky offensive player of the week after leading the Vikings to a 38-31 win over Cal State Sacramento in his first start.

He completed 24 of 46 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns.

Weber State linebacker David Stroshine was named defensive player of the week for an 11-tackle effort in a 17-7 win over Montana State. Montana placekicker Andy Larson won special-team honors after scoring 11 points in a 43-36 win over Cal State Northridge.

Purdue coach quits

Jim Colletto, unable to turn around a program that has not had a winning season since 1984, resigned as Purdue coach.

Colletto, who came to Purdue in December 1990, has a 20-40-3 record in six seasons, including 2-6 this season. He will coach the final three games this season.

“I’ve decided that the timing is right for me to step aside as head coach at the end of this season. I am tired and I’m concerned for my health,” Colletto said.

“I feel this program is on a firm foundation now and is ready to move back into the upper echelon of the Big Ten.”

FSU QB hurt

Florida State quarterback Thad Busby suffered a hairline fracture of the left wrist in Saturday’s 49-3 win at Georgia Tech and could miss Saturday’s Wake Forest game.

Busby was removed from the Georgia Tech game in the third quarter after the injury, which at first wasn’t believed to be serious.

Trainer Randy Oravetz diagnosed the fracture Monday and said Busby would not practice until Thursday at the earliest.

The third-ranked Seminoles (7-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will go with redshirt freshman Dan Kendra, who has attempted only 31 passes, until Busby can play.

SW Texas fires coaches

Southwest Texas coach Jim Bob Helduser and his staff were fired Monday, effective after the Bobcats’ final three games.

The team is 3-5 this season and Helduser, 39, is 18-33-2 in five seasons. He worked as an assistant coach at the school for five years before taking over the head job.

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