Dave Trimmer

Eastern Washington's record-breaking passing combination and two of the linemen who made it possible earned All-America honors. Quarterback Erik Meyer, wide receiver Eric Kimble, tackle Michael Roos and guard Rocky Hanni were selected to The Sports Network Division I-AA All-America teams.

Eastern Washington University's men's basketball team has a key game tonight as it goes through its usual difficult December schedule. The Eagles (2-3) face Cal State Fullerton (2-2) at 7:05 at Reese Court, hoping to erase the sting of an 89-56 loss at No. 14 Washington last Sunday.

From big and brawny to fast and furious. That's the change of direction Eastern Washington takes as the 14th-ranked Eagles march on in the I-AA football playoffs.

For most of his 21 years, Raul Vijil made big plays with his feet. He was a two-time All-Big Nine Conference soccer player at Pasco, helping the Bulldogs win the State 4A championship as a sophomore and scoring 14 goals as a senior. He also played on the state Olympic Development Team. Nowadays Vijil has to make plays with his hands before he can use his feet to help the Eastern Washington football team.

It was the home opener against an NAIA Division II opponent without its leading scorer, playing its second game in as many nights. That's why it was no surprise Eastern Washington's two-time All-Big Sky Conference forward Marc Axton poured in 36 points, tying the school record with seven 3-pointers along the way.

Nick Denbeigh predicted he would be a college football player when he was a sophomore at Lewis and Clark High School. He didn't envision he would be a redshirt sophomore starting at rover in the I-AA playoffs for Eastern Washington University.

On paper, the game is less intriguing than an exhibition, but Eastern Washington men's basketball coach Mike Burns doesn't care. "It's just good to have a home game," the first-year Eagles head coach said. "A home game against anybody would be great right now."

The bracket for the I-AA football playoffs is hard to figure, but the Eastern Washington Eagles aren't complaining. The 14th-ranked Eagles (9-3) are home, facing No. 9 Sam Houston State (10-2) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Woodward Field

CARDONDALE, Ill. – Eastern Washington was in trouble. Southern Illinois quarterback Joel Sambursky was making like Erik Meyer converting clutch plays, and the Eagles had no answer for 260-pound running back Brandon Jacobs. It was obvious why the Salukis were the No. 1 team in I-AA football. "They were running the ball and converting some seconds-and-long, thirds-and-long, moving the chains and chewing up the clock," Eastern coach Paul Wulff said. "They were snapping the ball with 5 seconds left on the play clock so the tempo was definitely theirs. We were moving the ball but we weren't real sharp."

The chartered airplane lifted off before dawn this morning, taking Eastern Washington to what the school hopes is more than a one-stop or one-year destination. The Eagles' 14th-ranked football team is headed for a showdown with top-ranked Southern Illinois in the first round of the I-AA playoffs Saturday afternoon in Carbondale, Ill.

At times during the final game of last season, an upset win against Arizona State, Washington State had five freshmen on the floor. That provided optimism for the future.

The goal is obvious – and it's not to have three-consecutive winning seasons for the second time in school history. No, this Gonzaga women's basketball team has its sights set on a much bigger prize.