Expect plenty of action when Eastern Washington plays ISU

The last fireworks show in the area could come on Saturday night when Idaho State visits Woodward Field to open the Big Sky Conference football season.

Not only did Eastern lose 55-52 at Pocatello last year, there was a little bad blood after the double-overtime game.

The Eagles had a 42-28 lead, but they couldn’t run out the clock, allowing the Bengals to score twice in the last five minutes.

Part of the problem was the absence of game-breaking receiver Eric Kimble. He was lost in the second quarter when he sustained a concussion that resulted in an ISU face mask penalty. At that point Kimble had touched the ball 12 times and compiled 134 yards.

Later in the game, free safety Nate McFarlane was lost for the season with a neck injury, created by what the Eagles thought was a questionable play. The winning TD in overtime was set up by a pass interference call.

Eastern coach Paul Wulff isn’t about to dredge up all of that.

“Well,” he responded, wryly, “we really want to win the game.”

That game produced 958 yards, typical of recent shootouts.

Eastern started a six-game winning streak in 1996, but ISU has won the last two. The Eagles have averaged 40.4 points and 475.5 yards to the Bengals’ 25.4 points and 397.8 yards.

The lowest scoring game was 21-14 two years ago at Woodward, but all five touchdowns were on pass plays of at least 39 yards. In Pocatello in 2001 the Eagles won 48-35 on a Troy Griggs field goal with 8 seconds to play, compiling 68 yards in the process.

Across the Sky

Portland State lost 27-17 at Fresno State, the 17th-ranked team in Division I. The Vikings held the Bulldogs to fewer points than Washington and Kansas State did while compiling 276 yards of offense.

Sacramento State ended an eight-game losing streak with a 23-17 win over Southern Utah. Quarterback Ryan Leadingham passed for 220 yards with Fred Amey accounting for 158 yards (his 11th career 100-yard game) and two touchdowns on eight catches. The Hornets were without 1,000-yard rusher Tyronne Gross because of a hamstring injury, but true freshman Ryan Mole had 114 yards on nine carries.

Sam Houston knocked Montana from the No. 1 perch with a convincing 41-29 win. The Bearkats were up 41-10 early in the fourth quarter, leading to the chant of “overrated.”

Weber State remained winless in three games by giving up touchdowns of 84, 85 and 65 yards to UC Davis in a 31-29 outcome. The Wildcats rallied from a 28-10 halftime deficit to take a 29-28 lead, but botched a punt that led to the winning field goal.

Montana State continues to struggle. The ‘Cats fell to No. 21 after losing to Cal Poly, which is ranked No. 15, 27-14. Quarterback Travis Lulay was 17 of 38 for 162 yards and two interceptions, and the running game picked up 86 yards on 39 attempts. MSU lost linebacker Nick Marudas for the season with a broken leg, which helped the Mustangs pile up 367 yards. That doesn’t bode well for a trip to Division I Colorado State this week.

Quick kicks

The other Big Sky opener this week is Weber State at No. 23 Northern Arizona (0-2). … Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick was 21-19 as the Montana State coach from 1978-81. The Butte native is 91-47 at CSU with six bowl appearances. Dave Arnold, another MSU head coach, is a CSU assistant. The 0-3 Rams have lost to No. 1 Southern Cal and No. 19 Minnesota. … PSU’s Ryan Fuqua needs 86 yards to reach 4,000 for his career.