EWU notebook: Record-breaking Cooper Kupp adds mark for total receptions

It was just a 3-yard catch, but so momentous for everyone on a chilly Saturday night in Cheney.

Early in the fourth quarter of Eastern Washington’s 48-17 win over Idaho State, backup quarterback Jordan West threw a quick out to Cooper Kupp, who snagged the ball and was quickly tackled.

The catch was the 396th of Kupp’s career, breaking the Division I record of 395 set by Terrell Hudgins of Elon from 2006-09. It completed a triple crown for Kupp, who also holds the national records for touchdowns (68) and yards (5,974).

Appropriately, everyone at Roos Field stopped to savor the moment. Eastern coach Beau Baldwin called timeout, and players mobbed Kupp while 9,302 fans rose to applaud the most decorated player in school history.

“That was really cool,” Baldwin said. “The other piece that is really special is that Jordan West got to throw him the record-tying and record-breaking balls.

“He came in here with Cooper and they are close friends as fifth-year seniors. That was a pretty neat deal for those two.”

After the game, dozens of friends, family members and fans were gathered around Kupp as others looked on.

Watching from afar was EWU receivers coach Nicholas Edwards, who was still wearing an Eagles uniform during Kupp’s redshirt freshman year in 2012. Edwards returned to Cheney two years later to help Kupp on his way to stardom.

“It’s just been a blessing to be around him,” Edwards said. “It’s crazy to see him being a senior already. we’ve been through a lot and he’s deserved all of it.”

As the field finally cleared, Kupp saw the big picture.

Talking about his teammates who’ve backed him for almost four seasons, Kupp said, “They expect that they have my back and I have theirs.

“If I’m going through a day and I don’t think I’ve done my best, then I’ve let those guys down.”

A memorable Senior Day

Eastern wrung every bit of emotion out of Senior Day, which marked the final regular-season home game for 12 seniors.

It began with the traditional walk-through onto Roos Field with family and friends, and ended with a twist as the public announced spoke as center Jerrod Jones walked onto the field:

“And, oh yes, Jerrod has something else he would like to do today on Senior Day …”

On that cue, as Jones took a knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Maddie.

Make that his fiancée, because Maddie said, “Yes.”

More drama followed.

After the game, linebacker Miquiyah Zamora nearly brought some stoic reporters to tears as he reflected on a Senior Day game that was witnessed by about 20 family members who made the trip from Pasco.

Senior Day won’t make you play harder, Zamora said.

“No, this was special because years from now, I’ll know exactly where every one of them sat, and I’ll be able to see all of their faces,” Zamora said.

“That means more than anything,” said Zamora, who still played hard enough: He finished with a game-high 11 tackles.

The other seniors were receivers Kupp, Kendrick Bourne and Shaq Hill, running back Jabari Wilson, tight end Zach Wimberly, West, defensive linemen Samson Ebukam and Matt Sommer, and defensive back J.J. Njoku.

Who makes the playoffs?

Even before the Eagles took the field, two upsets further scrambled the Big Sky Conference playoff picture.

With one week left, only Eastern and North Dakota are locks to play in the FCS playoffs that begin Nov. 26.

The biggest shocker was No. 16 Cal Poly’s 22-15 loss at Weber State, dropping the Mustangs to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the conference. The win puts Weber back in the playoff picture at 6-4 and 2-5.

Meanwhile, Montana lost 28-25 at Northern Colorado, imperiling the Grizzlies’ playoff chances going into next week’s home game at Montana State. The loss leaves Montana at 6-5 and 3-4, while UNC is 6-4 and 4-3.

Father and son on the radio

Saturday was a father-and-son moment for Paul Sorensen, the color analyst who calls Eastern games for 700-AM.

His son Cody, who starred at Ferris High School and played defensive back at Idaho State, was back home, doing color with ISU sportscaster Jerry Miller.

Paul Sorensen, a former All-American safety at Washington State, is in his 14th season calling Eastern games.