Eastern Eagles defensive backs prepare to catch spotlight

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.

“Amazing,” Denbeigh said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for everyone. I just feel blessed to be part of it.”

The next opportunity comes at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Woodward Field when the 14th-ranked Eagles (9-3) face No. 9 Sam Houston State (10-2) in the quarterfinals.

Although he wasn’t offered a scholarship, Denbeigh listened to high school coach Tom Yearout when he said, “You can do it if you want to do it.”

“I wanted to prove everybody wrong who said I couldn’t do it,” Denbeigh said.

Denbeigh is part of a good, deep and somewhat young secondary that is going to face its toughest task to date because of the Bearkats’ prolific passing attack triggered by potential pro quarterback Dustin Long.

It’s just the kind of challenge that revs up defensive backs.

“I think the coaches will tell us we have to have the same focus no matter what, but among the players, knowing we have a great opponent coming in, we get up a little more,” said EWU sophomore Brandon Keeler, an All-Big Sky Conference first-team free safety. “(Especially) with the talent they have at those wideout positions and, obviously, a great quarterback.”

Last weekend, the Eagles were focused on the stable of running backs presented by Southern Illinois, including 260-pound Brandon Jacobs.

“We’re darned sure going to have our hands full, going from one extreme to the other,” EWU defensive coordinator and safeties coach Jody Sears said. “I don’t know if it’s a tough adjustment, because playing in our conference we’ve faced similar kind of philosophies. Idaho State and Northern Arizona spread you out and throw the ball around.”

To a man, the defensive backs are pumped.

“In the playoffs you’re going to have a lot of good teams, a lot of great receivers, or they wouldn’t be here,” Eagles all-conference cornerback Isaiah Trufant said. “You have to have a short memory out there. We just have to have the mentality they’re going to make plays, we’re going to make plays. We have to make the most plays to get the job done.”

EWU’s Ryan Phillips, who was also a first-team, all-conference cornerback, said, “You always look for challenges, opportunities to make big plays in big games. … We’re just going to play like we’ve been playing all year. We don’t look at matchups too much.”

Eagles cornerbacks coach Chris Hansen admitted that he’s nervous, but quickly added, “I’m confident in my kids.”

That includes Jesse Hendrix, who was honorable mention all-confernce despite not starting.

“You prepare for it all week, so what you’re up against is no surprise,” Hendrix said. “It’s a spread and they try to hit on all cylinders. It’s similar to Idaho State’s offense … we love it.”

Idaho State passed for 338 yards at Eastern but lost 47-22. Long averages 311 yards a game and has 36 touchdown passes. The Bearkats handily defeated Nicholls State and Montana, the two I-AA teams that beat Eastern.

“(Long) is like (Mark) Hetherington of Idaho State,” Hansen said. “He’s not going to run, he can throw it all over and he’s got arm strength. He’s a senior and he plays like it.”

Keeler didn’t expect to be in this position. Last fall he was a redshirt as a wide receiver.

Denbeigh made a game-turning interception against Southern Illinois early in the second half.

Yet that isn’t the highlight in Denbeigh’s young career.

“It’s the team wins,” he said. “That means more than anything.”

He’s just hoping EWU’s secondary can make another memory.