Meyer’s arm, legs baffle PSU

PORTLAND – The numbers may indicate that Eastern Washington University whipped Portland State University 41-21 at PGE Park Saturday night on Erik Meyer’s arm.

But the typically staggering numbers for the junior quarterback were as much about his feet as they were his right arm.

Meyer bought his passing game almost unlimited time with his nimble feet and proceeded to complete 22 of 30 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns. That also helped exhaust the Vikings defensive line and the running game contributed to a dominating first half after being bottled up by a pair of 300-pound tackles.

Meanwhile, the defense went from solid in a Big Sky Conference opening win over Idaho State last week to sensational. Two turnovers and a big sack led to three consecutive touchdowns and a halftime lead of 34-7.

All of that transpired after a week in which a starter quit and injuries surfaced that caused some serious shifting on both starting units.

“I’ve never been associated with a team that was able to overcome (what) we had to this week in so many ways,” EWU coach Paul Wulff said. “I’m so proud of these coaches, to be quite honest. (They) did a phenomenal job coaching this week, pushing through everything. And then the kids rallying and just stepping up. We brought 58 kids and 58 kids needed to contribute somehow, some way, and they all did.”

The offense set the tone early for the Eagles (3-2, 2-0). Electing to go on offense to start the game, the Eagles quickly faced a third-and-11 that Meyer calmly turned into a first down with a 15-yard out to Craig McIntyre. From there, the Eagles marched downfield until Darius Washington, who didn’t start because of a toe injury, scored on a 2-yard run.

“We came out fired up, making big plays in the first quarter,” Meyer said. “We had a third-and-10 the first (possession), made a play and after that I knew we came to play tonight.”

PSU (2-2, 0-1), without injured Eagle nemesis Ryan Fuqua because of an injury, stormed right back behind Fuqua’s replacement. Joe Rubin rushed ran six times for 59 yards, including a 38-yard run that set up Allen Kennett’s 1-yard TD.

That 78-yard drive was the high-water mark for the Vikings in the first half as they finished with 102 to Eastern’s 316.

“It just lets us know we are able come through and get it done,” EWU senior safety Javid Shoemaker said. “It was nothing different. We just settled down, read our keys; everybody did their job.”

“Early on we weren’t very disciplined and everybody wasn’t sitting to stop the run,” Wulff said. “To stop the run everybody has to do their responsibility and all 11 weren’t doing their job. We did a good job on the sideline getting them back, getting them focused.”

The Eagles didn’t panic, responding with an 84-yard drive that included a pair of penalty-induced third-and-long plays. On the first play of the second quarter Meyer slid right out of the pocket and found McIntyre in the front end of the end zone for an 18-yard score.

“As a receiving corps we kind of emphasize making big plays, knowing the situation,” McIntyre said. “(Meyer is) an easy guy to work with because he’s so elusive out there scrambling. We practice the scrambling drill. That’s where we seem to make a lot of our big plays … we do what we have to do.”

The defense made a statement with a three-and-out and on PSU’s next possession went one better. Shoemaker blitzed, leading to a bad pitch by quarterback Joe Wiser, for a loss of 17 yards. Shoemaker picked up the loose ball, racing 38 yards to score. Sheldon Weddle missed the point after.

PSU got to the EWU 30 on its next possession and was facing a third-and-8 when Nate McFarlane, spelling Shoemaker, sacked Wiser for a 19-yard loss, forcing a punt from what had been four-down territory.

Meyer turned that into an 80-yard drive, helped along by a tackle-busting, 30-yard run by Washington, who finished with 81 yards on 22 carries despite suffering from turf toe. The capper was a 17-yard pass to Richmond Sanders for a 27-7 lead 1:13 before halftime.

A penalty helped get the Vikings to midfield in two plays, but right when tackle Brandon Myers was about to sack Wiser, end Tom Finnerty grabbed the ball out of the quarterback’s hand. Taking over on the PSU 44, Meyer hit Kimble for 21, Sanders for 9 and then Kimble again for 14 yards and a touchdown with 9 seconds left.

“I didn’t realize we would be able to score like this,” Wulff said. “I knew they had a really good defense. Early in the week (someone) said, ‘This is the best defense in the Big Sky in years,’ and I took that as a challenge.”

PSU finished with 338 yards – 236 in the second half – and 144 of that came on the first two possessions of the second half when PSU pulled within 34-21.

Rubin again was a big reason on his way to a career-high 167 yards.

“He’s the real deal,” said Shoemaker, noting the junior didn’t appear any different than Fuqua, who had 768 yards against the Eagles in the last three meetings.