Ewu Shocks Boise Perigo’s Interception Return Keys Eastern’s 27-21 Victory

Eastern Washington defensive back Maurice Perigo returned a pass interception for a touchdown with 4:52 remaining Saturday night then recovered a Boise State fumble to help the Eagles record a 27-21 upset victory over the Broncos.

Perigo’s 28-yard return stunned a Bronco Stadium crowd of 18,595 fans, breaking a 21-21 tie and pointing EWU toward its first victory of the 1996 season.

Eastern, a member of the Division I-AA Big Sky Conference, evened its record at 1-1. Boise State, a longtime Big Sky participant in its first season as a member of the I-A Big West Conference, fell to 1-2.

On the first possession after Perigo’s touchdown dash, Boise State running back Reggie Ethridge fumbled at his own 34-yard line. Perigo pounced on the ball and the Eagles, who never trailed, were able to run out most of the remaining time.

Eastern’s defense had produced the first score of the game. Defensive end Steve Mattson intercepted Boise State quarterback Tony Hilde on the third play of the game and returned the ball 40 yards for a touchdown.

Running back Joe Sewell led the offense, dashing for 126 yards and one touchdown. His score, a 17-yard sprint on the opening play of the second quarter, gave Eastern Washington a 14-0 lead.

Eastern’s third-year head coach, Mike Kramer, who endured Boise State’s 63-44 romp last fall, was quick to deflect the credit.

“Lay the win on (defensive coordinator) Jerry Graybeal’s doorstep,” Kramer said. “After giving up 173 points in the last three games of 1995, the defense is like a Phoenix.”

Boise State had amassed a school record 664 yards in its 1995 victory over EWU. Saturday night, the Broncos gained only 316.

“We just wanted an opportunity to acquit ourselves,” Kramer said. “In the end, we had a chance to win the game, and by God, we did it.”

Boise State leads the series, 11-6, but Eastern has won 6 of 11 meetings since 1986.

The Eagles won in Boise for only the second time in 10 tries. Their only previous triumph on BSU’s notorious blue turf was a 28-17 success in 1993.

EWU was playing its first Division I-AA opponent since 1994, when the Eagles downed Utah State, 49-31.

Eastern Wash. 27, Boise St. 21

E. Washington 7 7 7 6 - 27

Boise State 0 7 14 0 - 21

E.W.U.-Mattson 40 interception return (Atwood kick) E.W.U.-Sewell 17 run (Atwood kick) B.S.U.-Horace 47 pass from Hilde (Belcastro kick) E.W.U.-Miller 10 pass from Leons (Atwood kick) B.S.U.-Ikebe 13 pass from Hilde (Belcastro kick) B.S.U.-Reed 50 interception return (Belcastro kick) E.W.U.-Perigo 28 interception return (Kick failed) A-18,595.

E.W.U. B.S.U. First downs 20 19 Rushes-yards 39-156 38-129 Passing 210 187 Comp-Att-Int 29-17-1 19-33-2 Return Yards 73 50 Punts-Avg. 6-37.0 7-38.0 Fumbles-Lost 4-1 1-1 Penalties-Yards 4-40 8-99 Time of Possession 29:15 30:45 Individual statistics RUSHINGE.W.U., Sewell 24-126, Prescott 8-27, Leons 7-3. B.S.U., Ethridge, 22-108, Tatum 6-12, Hilde 10-9.

PASSINGE.W.U., Leons 17-29-1-210. B.S.U., Hilde 19-33-2-187.

RECEIVINGE.W.U., Miller 8-94, Correa 5-82, Sewell 2-9. B.S.U., Ikebe 7-54, Horace 3-69, Ethridge 3-17.

, DataTimes