Eagles, Wildcats both aim at turnaround
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Recent history, going all the way back to last week, suggests today’s Big Sky Conference football game at Bobcat Stadium could be a stinker.
Both Eastern Washington (0-3) and Montana State (1-2) are stumbling into the conference opener in dire need of a win.
But it was just two years ago, in the same place, that one of the all-time great games was played. EWU rallied from a three-touchdown deficit in the second half to win 51-44 in overtime, securing the first of its back-to-back shared championships.
The coaches have taken dramatic steps this week to light a fire under their teams with expectations that they will come closer to resembling those teams that were battling for a title as opposed to those that are scuffling now.
“Any team needs a victory when you’re 0-3,” said Eastern coach Paul Wulff, whose team fell to Central Washington last week. “We need a victory, but before we can worry about that we have to play better.
“We’ll be much improved. Hopefully, that improvement will put us in a position to be in the ballgame and win it.”
To that end he has shuffled the depth chart, though who emerges at the top are “game-day decisions.”
Redshirt freshman Matt Nichols will make his third start at quarterback although junior Chris Peerboom has returned from a concussion suffered in the season opener. Wulff said he expects Peerboom to play, though his appearance won’t be predetermined.
“I definitely feel comfortable now,” Nichols said. “I would never use being a freshman as an excuse. All these guys are counting on me. I’m trying to grow up real fast and try to lead the team.”
Nichols has completed 40 of 77 passes for 420 yards but has four interceptions and just one touchdown.
“They’re not the same at quarterback,” MSU coach Mike Kramer said, referring to the graduation of Payton Award-winner Erik Meyer. “When you don’t have big-strike capability on every single play, maybe some of those guys are waiting for the big play instead of saying, ‘We’ve got four and let’s go on.’ “
The Bobcats are also struggling on offense, reaching rock bottom last week in a 45-0 loss to UC Davis and losing standout safety Ryan Force with a dislocated shoulder in the process.
“Losing 45-nothing this long into my coaching career is about as bad as I want to be part of,” Kramer said. “I’m a little leery. Something has to give. I won’t stand for this.”
Junior quarterback Cory Carpenter’s numbers have dropped each week since the season-opening upset of Colorado. It was after that game running back Evin Groves injured a knee in practice. A week later “go-to” wide receiver and kick returner Josh Lewis went down with a knee injury in practice.
MSU is fifth in I-AA passing offense (267.7 yards per game) with Carpenter 11th individually (685 yards).
“They actually have a lot of transfers from some JCs so they are extremely talented, especially at the wide receiver position,” Eagles safety Brandon Keeler said.
“The secondary is going to have some work to do, but we’re up to the challenge.”
Kramer said he has seen three different teams in three weeks.
“We played great, we played OK with a meltdown and we played horrible,” he said. “They have all these monikers for Saturdays, for us it’s ‘Description Saturday.’ We could be lousy or we could be awfully, awfully good.”
Wulff expects to see the good Cats.
“They have good speed on defense and very veteran cornerbacks,” he said. “(Against Colorado) they completed a lot of ball, got a lot of first downs. The passing game is pretty good and they showed a good running game.”
A win will cure a lot of ills.
“It matters in ‘preseason,’ but now it really matters,” Nichols said. “Now we take it one game at a time, fight a littler harder. This is a huge week for us. It’s definitely a must-win week for us … for the fans, the coaches, the players – everybody’s morale. Both teams will be ready to play. I expect a shootout.”
Quick kicks
Eastern is trying to avoid its first 0-4 start since the 1983 team went 0-5 before finishing 5-5. … The Eagles are missing two starters, center Chris Carlesen (knee) and safety Bryan Jarrett (ankle). … After netting just two yards rushing against UC Davis, the Bobcats are averaging 46.3 on the ground, which is 113th out of 116 I-AA programs. But Eastern is yielding 260 yards a game. … The Eagles are ranked in the bottom five nationally in rushing defense, points allowed per game (43) and yards allowed (471 per game).