Eagle football benefits from depth charge
Quality rotation equals third-quarter success
The Eastern Washington offense put up some staggering numbers last weekend against Montana State: eight touchdowns in as many possessions, 12.3 yards a play and not a single punt.
And the Eagles defense? They’re still hungry and coming back for thirds. Third quarters, that is. The ones Eastern has dominated of late.
Coach Beau Baldwin won’t claim credit for a game-changing halftime speech; instead he credits a few adjustments and a deep rotation on the line.
They go hand in hand, Baldwin said during practice Tuesday at Roos Field, “We do a good job of making adjustments, but our depth allows us to be better late in games.”
For the third game in a row, it was the same story: with the game hanging in the balance, a porous defense turned rock-solid in the decisive third quarter:
- On Oct. 26 at Montana, the Eagles gave up 254 yards before halftime, but just 44 yards in the third quarter as the offense stretched an 11-point lead to 25
- A week later at Idaho State, they were gashed for 384 yards in the first half, but just 77 in the third as a 7-point halftime advantage stretched to 17;
- On Saturday, the Eagles gave up 265 yards and three scores in the first half, but just 76 yards in the third quarter. When it was over, a 5-point lead ballooned to 40-21.