Eagles Know The Score Focus Becomes Essential As Prohibitive Favorites

Mental preparation took on added importance on the Eastern Washington University football practice fields this week as the Eagles readied themselves for a major role reversal in tonight’s 6:05 Woodward Stadium matchup against Western Oregon.

First-year coach Paul Wulff hopes that preparation, coupled with an abundance of senior leadership, will keep his team on task as it shifts its identity from decided underdog, as it was in last weekend’s season-opening 21-19 loss at Oregon State, to lopsided favorite against the Division II Wolves.

“Our kids have to understand, and it’s up to our coaches to relay the fact, that we can’t get caught up in who we’re playing,” Wulff said. “Whether it’s Oregon State or Western Oregon, we need to focus on ourselves and becoming a better football team.

“You need to rely on your veterans, in a situation like this, to realize that you have to come out and play football every week or else you’re going to struggle, regardless of who you’re opponent is. And I think we have enough maturity on this team to understand that.”

Wulff said he expects Western Oregon (1-0) to come in with the same “nothing-to-lose, everything-to-gain” approach that his Eagles (0-1) used in almost upsetting OSU last Saturday.

The Wolves are led offensively by 6-foot-5 senior quarterback Adam Bledsoe and junior running back David Swopes, a pair of firstyear transfers from Division I schools. Bledsoe, who spent four seasons at Colorado, threw for 246 yards and a touchdown in last weekend’s 17-15 road win over Mesa State. Swopes, from Oregon State, rushed for 119 yards and another touchdown.

While Wulff is aware of Bledsoe’s gun and Swopes’ elusiveness, he is more concerned with the big guys crouching in front of the two backs, The offensive line is anchored by 6-8, 315-pound senior tackle Brian Crawford and features three other starters who weigh more than 280.

The Eagles will counter with a veteran defense that did a remarkable job of keeping Oregon State in check.

“Eastern is a very good team that will probably compete for the Big Sky championship,” said Western Oregon coach Blaine Bennett. “They’re a veteran group, physical up-front, with great team speed.

“The key for us is to eliminate any mistakes. Kind of like they did at Oregon State, we have to stay in the game, stay in the game, stay in the game and hope to have a chance to win at the end.”

Notes

Eastern has lost senior Shaun McMakin for an undetermined period of time due to the knee injury the special teams standout suffered in Saturday’s loss at Oregon State… . With offensive linemen David Sherrod (knee), Kurt Sigler (concussions) and James Venters (knee) still sidelined, the Eagles will again start redshirt freshman walk-on Wes Shults at left tackle… . Eastern’s only other injured player is tight end Dan Curley, who will be out indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this week to repair damage suffered during preseason drills… . Western Oregon coach Blaine Bennett played one season of college football for his father, Shorty Bennett, at Whitworth and now has his dad on his staff as an assistant coach.