Eagles’ special season takes unexpected turn

POCATELLO, Idaho – Tabbed as preseason Big Sky Conference favorites for the first time, this was going to be a special season for the Eastern Washington football team.

Many agreed, as evidenced by the No. 4 preseason ranking, the highest for the Eagles.

But because they weren’t special in their conference opener on Saturday, the Eagles are going to have to dig out of a big hole for the season to be special.

Idaho State and Eastern split halves – the Bengals winning the first – but ISU had the better special teams all day as they beat Eastern 34-31 at Holt Arena.

“They hadn’t had much success (returning kicks) on film,” Eagles special teams coach Keith Murphy said. “I was confident we could attack them, but I thought they were better than they showed on film.”

Kimble sets standard

Eric Kimble caught a 22-yard pass from Erik Meyer in the third quarter to become Eastern’s all-time leader in career receiving yards.

Kimble finished with seven catches for 91 yards, giving him 3,075 yards. Tony Brooks had 3,013 yards from 1990-93. Kimble has five career records and four single-season marks.

Meyer threw for more than 300 yards (364) for the third time this season and sixth time in the last seven games. He is 132 yards from the EWU passing yardage record.

Hagler had his moments

ISU sophomore Matt Hagler at times looked like a mediocre quarterback, badly misfiring on his first pass and getting picked off at midfield by Gregor Smith on his second.

The Eagles turned that into a quick 7-0 lead.

The Bengals rallied and were threatening to go up 28-7 when Eastern linebacker Joey Cwik looked like Hagler’s intended receiver on an interception at the 6-yard line.

But on ISU’s second possession, Hagler hit two of three passes, a series-starting 21-yarder and a 34-yard scoring pass to Dane Simmons. He completed just two more passes in the half, but both were third-down conversions.

Hagler had nine completions in the second half, but two converted third downs and another third-down pass drew a touchdown-saving pass-interference penalty on EWU cornerback Jesse Hendrix.

Eagles nest

Eastern lost its conference opener for the fourth time in five seasons. … The Eagles outgained Idaho State 425-301, including 263-88 in the second half. … Casey Willis replaced Sheldon Weddle as EWU’s place-kicker. … DeNique Ford started in place of injured Isaiah Trufant as EWU’s cornerback. … EWU’s Dale Morris got his first start at running back. … Wide receiver Richmond Sanders (shoulder) and defensive end Jason Belsted (calf) were knocked out of the game, but the injuries don’t appear serious. … The Eagles were 5 of 11 on third downs, making them 10 of 31 this season after converting 52 percent last year. … Jaret Johnson missed his PAT after ISU’s second score – the fifth miss of his career.