Ewu Miracle Denied Botched Conversion, Onside Try Ruin Rally

Miracles came thiiiiis close to happening for Eastern Washington on Thursday night.

A two-point conversion that would have tied the game went through the hands of receiver Keish Levingston with 32 seconds left, thwarting a near-miracle comeback and allowing Portland State to escape with a wild 48-39 victory in the Big Sky football opener for both teams.

Eastern Washington attempted an onside kick, but Portland State’s Orshwante Bryant fielded the ball at the Eagles 43 and went untouched for a touchdown with 27 seconds left.

The Eagles were down by 15 points for much of the game after watching Portland State stars Charles Dunn and Jimmy Blanchard lead an offense that rolled up 488 yards.

But behind the running of sophomores Jovan Griffith and Jesse Chatman, the Eagles hung in the game long enough for their defense to make a big play. That big play came with 6:17 left to play with Portland State leading 41-33 and driving for a touchdown deep in Eagles territory.

Defensive lineman Jeff Allen recovered a lateral at the Eastern 27 and returned it to the Eagles 49. Twelve plays later, Chatman scored from 1 yard out on fourth-and-goal to pull Eastern within 41-39.

On the two-point conversion, quarterback Fred Salanoa rolled to his left and lofted a pass in the corner to Levingston, who was tightly covered. The ball slipped through his hands, after which Levingston pounded his fists into a wall.

Griffith led the Eagles with a career-high 185 yards on 24 carries. His previous high was 149 yards last year against Western Washington. Chatman had 108 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

The Eagles (1-2 overall, 0-1 Big Sky) were picked by both the conference coaches and media to finish third in the Big Sky - one spot ahead of Portland State - but the prognosticators probably didn’t figure on such a soft Eastern defense.

Blanchard, a junior quarterback who missed much of last season with an arm injury, completed 16 of 22 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns, one week after he threw five touchdowns in the first half of a 48-28 win over Western Washington. Dunn, a returning first-team all conference pick, rushed 29 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass.

It was a frustrating game for Eastern Washington because at times, the Eagles dominated.

The Eagles led 16-7 after the first quarter. Griffith had 89 yards on 11 carries in the quarter, including a 45-yard run that set up the Eagles’ first touchdown - a 7-yard touchdown pass from Salanoa to Griffith that tied the score at 7.

The Eagles defense made a rare stop on the next series, which resulted in a safety after Portland State long snapper Dan Fenton took his job description literally and snapped the ball well over the head of punter Dan Frantz. The ball rolled 41 yards into the end zone, where Frantz stumbled and kicked it out of the end zone for a safety and a 9-7 Eastern lead.

But once the second quarter came, the game turned. On the quarter’s first play, Blanchard hit Cheo Angel with a 25-yard touchdown pass to pull the Vikings within 16-14.

Eastern was forced to punt, but appeared in great shape after Kyle Delome downed the punt inside the Vikings’ 1-yard line.

But on Portland State’s first play, Blanchard hit Terry Charles with a 99-yard touchdown pass. The pass appeared as if it would be intercepted, but it was just cleared the hands of defender LeVar McClary, and safety Alvin Tolliver cut in front of the pass too late, allowing Charles to catch the ball at the 20 and run untouched the rest of the way.

The Eagles were hampered early when starting right tackle James Venters suffered an apparent leg injury and was carried off the field by his teammates.

Portland State opened the game with an 11-play scoring drive that was culminated by a 3-yard touchdown pass to fullback Steve Jakubowski.

Portland St. 48, EWU 39

E. Washington 16 3 7 13 - 39

Portland St. 7 27 0 14 - 48

PSU-Jakubowski 3 pass from Blanchard (Frantz kick).

EW-Griffith 7 pass from Salanoa (Griggs kick).

EW-Team safety, punt snap goes through end zone.

EW-Chatman 5 run (Griggs kick).

PSU-Angel 25 pass from Blanchard (Frantz kick).

PSU-Charles 99 pass from Blanchard (Frantz kick).

EW-FG Griggs 28.

PSU-Dunn 9 run (run failed).

PSU-Dunn 39 run (Frantz kick).

EW-Griffith 35 run (Griggs kick).

PSU-Dunn 26 pass from Blanchard (Frantz kick).

EW-Levens 7 pass from Salanoa (Griggs kick0.

EW-Chatman 1 run (pass failed).

PSU-Bryant 43 kickoff return (Frantz kick).

A-17,878

EW PSU

First downs 23 23

Rushes-yard 46-304 40-212

Passing 171 276

Comp-Att-Int 14-28-0 16-22-0

Return Yards 177 157

Punts-Avg. 4-39 3-38

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 5-41 4-39

Time of Possession 33:24 26:36

Individual statistics

RUSHING-E. Washington, Griffith 24-185, Chatman 17-108, Salanoa 5-11. Portland St., Dunn 29-184, Blanchard 6-56, Angel 2-14, Jakubowski 1-1, Bryant 1-(minus 2).

PASSING-E. Washington., Salanoa 14-28-0-171. Portland St., Blanchard 16-22-0-276.

RECEIVING-E. Washington, Levens 5-79, Brightful 2-23, Curley 2-22, Griffith 2-13, Naccarato 1-13, Ballew 1-12, K. Levingston 1-9. Portland St., Jakubowski 5-39, Angel 4-55, Charles 3-117, Dunn 2-32, Bryant 1-17, Reynolds 1-16.