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December 12, 2010 in Sports
Eastern plays Villanova on Friday at Roos
The Eastern Washington University football team, coming off a 38-31 overtime triumph over North Dakota State on Saturday at Roos Field, will play host to Villanova on Friday on ESPN2 in the semifinals of the NCAA Football Championship Playoffs.
Kickoff at Roos Field in Cheney, will be 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Tickets for the game will be available later today via TicketsWest.com and 1-800-325-7328.
“It’s awesome,” Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin said of playing a third-straight playoff game at home. “Anytime you play at home it’s a great thing. It’s great for the community, Eastern Washington, the fans and our players. We are familiar with our surroundings when we get to stay at home instead of going on the road.”
Because the Eagles are seeded fifth, Eastern received another home game in the semifinals against unseeded Villanova, a 42-24 winner Saturday over No. 1 seeded Appalachian State. The Eagles, ranked No.1 to end the regular season in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision poll, enter the game with an 11-2 record and riding a nine-game winning streak. Villanova, ranked 10th to end the regular season, is 9-4 and knocked off Montana in last year’s FCS title game.
The other semifinal pits Georgia Southern (10-4) at third-seeded Delaware (11-2). The Georgia Southern Eagles ended the regular season ranked 20th and have won three-straight playoff games. The Blue Hens, who received a first-round bye, were ranked fifth to end the regular season.
Halcomb collects WCC honor 
PhiltheBibliophil on December 12 at 12:12 p.m.
Now that St. Few has driven our beloved Bulldogs into a ditch bigger than the Grand Canyon, its nice to know we have another team to root for! Go Eagles!
bartm on December 12 at 12:18 p.m.
I’m glad you say that Phil, but I hope people do more than just root for the Eags, and actually get out to Cheney to cheer them on in person. Attendance the last two playoff games has been embarrassing. We need to fill that stadium and support this great run!
Go Eagles!
misjustice on December 12 at 12:23 p.m.
Go Eags!
; )
eagleproducer on December 12 at 12:41 p.m.
I agree with Bart about the attendance the past two games. But I remember sitting in a sparsely seated Albi in 1997 when Eastern made a similar run, falling short against Youngstown State.
Yesterday’s game is the best I’ve ever seen live. The range in emotional spikes of both extremes and the last drive to send the game into OT make it an instant classic.
Be in Cheney on Friday evening to watch the biggest game in the history of EWU football.
GO EAGS!
jhummer3343 on December 12 at 1:44 p.m.
I would like to thank the spokesman for finally giving Eastern Washington University some coverage. I mean last weekend we have total coverage of the Apple Cup, which was a game that meant nothing. And yet the Ferris Saxons win a state championship and the EWU eagles get a win in the FCS playoffs and receive page 5 coverage. THANKS. How about giving some coverage to your local teams that are actually playing for something besides pride. It took a win in the FCS quarter finals last night to get a glimpse of coverage for Eastern. Even the Zags, who have started off lack luster this year, are still more important to the news media here in Spokane.
And to all you sports fans that are looking for something to watch next Friday, come out and support the Eagles. A huge game at home to go to the National Title Game. If you miss this game, you probably won’t be able to read about on Saturday. Lets show some support for Eastern.
Dazzeetrader11 on December 12 at 2:17 p.m.
EWU…good school. Support the team!
Obviously EWU isn’t an annual Division 1 national power like Gonzaga is but they’ve done a very nice job out there.
Surely Spokane is large enough to support more than one team. I hope EWU gets by Villanova and then brings a crown by winning a championship.
bartm on December 12 at 2:29 p.m.
Great comments hummer and Daisy. I just read Blanchette’s column, and he spends more time talking about the field than he does about the actual team. Then I read the comments on that one and Ebbnflow pretty much nails it.
It’s frustrating being an Eagles fan.
But it’s also not all the media’s fault, it’s the apathetic citizens too.
SugarShane on December 12 at 4:34 p.m.
Go EAGLES! EWU rocks… This is just one more reason to love being in school.
maggie6 on December 13 at 2:49 p.m.
Watched the game against North Dakota State here in
Las Vegas, New Mexico. I am rooting for the Eagles all the way
and hope they pull a winner against Villanova.
Spoketuckt has it right. This will be a big game for Eastern
Eagles—and include the rest of us in–The Whole Big Sky
Conference is rooting for the Eastern Washington Eagles
to bring the Championship Home not only for the Eagles,
but for the whole Big Sky as well.
The play-offs are big–real big–and the team will be watched
Friday Night by the whole of the U.S.of A and anywhere and everywhere.
The FCS gets bigger every year in coverage, and this year it is
even bigger. The Eastern Washington Eagles are in the spotlight Big Time. Good Luck– Hang tuff–WIN Win Win