When Eastern Washington clipped Delaware 20-19 in the 2010 FCS national title game, it prevailed without one of the most electric players in the country.
Twenty years after meeting as assistant coach and player at University High School, Jeff Schmedding and Heath Pulver are key assistants in EWU’s run at a second FCS national title.
Eastern Washington (12-2) of the Big Sky Conference meets North Dakota State (14-0) of the Missouri Valley Conference in the FCS national championship game.
Weber State turned the Eagles’ misses into transition buckets, shot 53 percent from the field and took advantage of a near eight-minute lull in the second half in which EWU didn’t hit just a single shot.
Syracuse, Oregon, Washington, Stanford, upstart San Francisco and Summit League power South Dakota State provided tough tests for the guard-heavy Eagles, but undesirable results.
Over the span of three seasons, Vegas oddmakers have pegged the Eagles to lose four FCS games. Each was against North Dakota State, a program that’s captured six of the last seven national championships.
Pittsburg (California) High quarterback Trey Turner’s recruiting took a hit when the talented dual-threat suffered a season-ending knee injury as a junior.
Ten times EWU cut the South Dakota State’s lead to one in front of a meager Christmas break crowd at Reese Court. Ten times All-American forward Mike Daum’s senior-laden Jackrabbits answered.
When EWU (1-9) concludes its brawny conference slate Tuesday at Reese Court against Summit League power South Dakota State (9-4), it won’t get any easier in the paint.
Eastern Washington’s veteran offensive front wasn’t fazed in Saturday’s semifinal by Maine, which came to Cheney leading the country in run defense and was second in sacks.
Barriere completed 21 of 30 passes for 352 yards and a seven touchdowns for the Eagles (12-2), who will face top-ranked North Dakota State (14-0) on January 5, 2019 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
All Eastern Washington center Spencer Blackburn could do was watch the from the freezing sidelines as Youngstown State marched down Roos Field in the closing seconds of the 2016 FCS semifinals and scored the game-winning touchdown.
They’re paired on the left side of Eastern Washington’s offensive line, but Beau Byus and Jack Hunter spent their teenage years separated by a Greater Spokane League rivalry.
The third-seeded Eagles, playing in their fifth FCS semifinal since 2010, have to get past a staunch Maine defensive unit that upset second-seeded Weber State 23-18 on the road last week.
Alcobendas was named the winner of the 2018 Fred Mitchell Award on Monday, an honor given to the top collegiate kicker at the NCAA Division I FCS, NCAA II, NCAA III, NAIA and NJCAA levels.
Sam McPherson’s 35-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left lifted the Eagles to 34-29 win over UC Davis in a wild FCS quarterfinal Saturday at Roos Field.
Moments after UC Davis quarterback Jake Maier had one of the worst performances of his college career last month in 59-20 thumping at Eastern Washington, he made a premonition of sorts.