Chatman Carries Eastern Eagles Running Back Scores 4 Tds In 27-9 Victory Over Nau

Due to injuries on the offensive line and inconsistent play at quarterback, Eastern Washington University has been alarmingly one-dimensional on offense this fall.

It’s a situation all college football coaches dread.

But as first-year Eagles coach Paul Wulff has learned, it’s tolerable - as long as that one dimension is Jesse Chatman.

Chatman, Eastern’s bruising 232-pound junior running back, put up huge numbers again Saturday afternoon as the Eagles celebrated the final Woodward Stadium appearance of 14 seniors with a 27-9 Big Sky Conference victory over Northern Arizona.

Chatman, who has been EWU’s main offensive weapon all season, bulled his way for 196 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles (5-5 overall, 4-3 Big Sky), snapped a three-game losing streak and kept their hopes for a winning season alive.

“Jesse’s been asking for the ball for a long time - `Put it in my hands,”’ Wulff said after watching Chatman carry 28 times and average 7 yards per carry, “and we were able to do that today.”

Chatman, who boosted his season rushing total to 1,043 yards, scored on runs of 3, 6, 1 and 3 yards. Two of his touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as the Eagles distanced themselves from the Lumberjacks (3-6, 2-5). The game was played in a cold, flag-stiffening wind on a soft field that had been drenched by early morning rain.

“I kind of figured we were going to run the ball a lot because of the field conditions,” said Chatman, who became the fifth Eastern running back in the past six seasons to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

“I was happy I got (the ball) as many times as I did, and I took advantage of the opportunity. But our offensive line, that’s why I was clicking. The holes were right where they were supposed to be, and I took advantage of them - hitting (the Lumberjacks) where it hurt.”

None of Chatman’s numerous highlight-reel runs hurt NAU as badly as his third-down scamper that led to Eastern’s third touchdown and effectively decided the issue.

Leading just 13-9 and facing a third-and-14 situation from the Lumberjacks’ 18-yard line, Chatman startled NAU’s blitzing defense with a 15-yard run on a draw play, giving the Eagles a first down at the 3. Two plays later, Chatman plunged across for a TD and a 20-9 lead. And when teammate Jason Koster recovered an NAU fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set up Chatman’s fourth score, it was over.

In the end, even Eastern’s defense - which was dominant throughout the game in allowing only a 24-yard field goal - had to appreciate Chatman’s effort.

“He was a stud, like always,” said senior middle linebacker Greg Belzer, Eastern’s all-time leading tackler, who has been butting heads with Chatman in practice for the past two years. “The guy is amazing. If I had to pick a running back I didn’t want to play against, it’d be him.

“He’s a load.”

Lumberjacks coach Jerome Souers admitted he hasn’t had to deal with many backs like Chatman during his time in the Big Sky.

“The times we could break loose with some of our defensive linemen, get some penetration and get a hand on him (in the backfield) was when we did the best against him,” Souers explained. “But when he gets a downhill run at you, he’s tough.”

With quarterback Fred Salanoa struggling to throw the football in the wind and cold, Eastern needed a big day from Chatman.

“Jesse played a helluva game today,” said Salanoa, who completed just 12 of 26 passes for 159 yards and threw a second-quarter interception that Valley Coleman returned 44 yards for NAU’s only touchdown.

Eastern, which closes its season at Portland State next Saturday, outgained the Lumberjacks 404-236 and held NAU running back Marcus King to just 88 yards - nearly 50 below his season average of 131.5.

EWU 27, NAU 9

N. Arizona 0 9 0 0 9

E. Washington 7 6 0 14 27

EWUChatman 3 run (Griggs kick) NAU-Dondelinger 24 field goal NAU-Coleman 44 interception return (kick blocked) EWU-Chatman 6 run (pass failed) EWU-Chatman 1 run (Griggs kick) EWU-Chatman 3 (Griggs kick) A-2,752 NAU EWU First downs 15 19 Rushes-yards 32-98 44-239 Passing 138 165 Comp-Att-Int 15-31-1 13-29-1 Return Yards 82 14 Punts-Avg. 4-28.3 3-30.7 Fumbles-Lost 4-2 1-0 Penalties-Yards 5-42 9-67 Time of Possession 27:23 32:37 RUSHING-NAU, King 23-86, Peace 2-9, Parsons 7-3. EWU, Chatman 28-196, Griffith 6-26, Sweet 5-18, Brightful 1-3, Salanoa 3-(minus 3).

PASSING-NAU, Parsons 12-25-0-130, Bradley 2-5-1-0, Gould 1-1-0-8. EWU, Salanoa 12-26-1-159, Samms 1-3-0-6.

RECEIVING-NAU, King 5-17, Cooper 2-47, Smith 2-23, Winn 2-11, Peace 1-12, Marshall 1-12, St. Paul 1-10, Cich 1-6. EWU, Brightful 3-62, Chatman 3-19, Reed 2-29, Ballew 2-29, Randall 2-20, Borgomainer 1-6.