More Eagles feeling the pain

Questionable is about the best news Paul Wulff has had on a Monday morning.

As the injuries continue to pile up for the Eastern Washington football team, the coach was told that injuries to center Kurt Sigler’s shoulder and Garrett Quinn’s leg make them questionable for Saturday’s homecoming contest with Weber State.

Both were hurt in the first half of the Eagles’ 34-20 win at Montana and questionable means they have maybe a 50-50 chance of being ready for the 2 p.m. game at Woodward Field.

That marks the sixth straight game Eastern has lost at least one key player.

Heading into the game, 11 players had been lost to significant injuries and prior to the game only one had returned.

“We just need some of these kids to get back healthy,” Wulff said. “The kids who have stepped in have done a great job.”

That was the case again Saturday when Randy Meade replaced Sigler. Meade, a senior, was a starter as a sophomore before injuring a knee.

“To have a veteran to be able to come in from sidelines as experienced and mature as Randy is is a blessing for us,” Wulff said. “We have all the confidence in the world Randy will do a great job.”

Quinn’s absence didn’t hurt much with the progress of Keith Grinnan, who missed a game two weeks ago with a bruised back.

“Keith has stepped up,” Wulff said. “He gets better every time he practices.”

Offensive tackle Chris Perkins, who injured an ankle in the season opener, returned to action at the start of the second quarter in Missoula.

“We need him to play better, but considering the amount of time he was out, he came in and played well,” Wulff said.

Cornerback Isaiah Trufant, who has been out since the second game with a high ankle sprain, is likely to be back this week.

Meyer honored again

For the second time this season and fifth time in his career, Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

With the impressive and rare win at Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Meyer also garnered the national Offensive Player of the Week from The Sports Network.

Meyer completed 28 of 40 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns as then 12th-ranked – and now No. 6 – Eastern beat the Grizzlies 34-20.

Montana fell from second to ninth in the rankings after its 13-game home winning streak was ended.

It was only the third conference home loss – and the second to Eastern – for the Grizzlies since 1993.

The yardage is the third-highest total for Meyer and ninth-best total in school history. It was the 13th time he has thrown for 300 yards.

Along the way he set a school record for completions – 598 and counting.

Meyer, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior from La Miranda, Calif., is first in the nation in total offense at 358.2 yards a game and sixth in passing efficiency at 164.5. He led the nation last year at 171.4. He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,077 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

The Eagles lead the nation in passing and total offense after rolling up 541 yards against UM.

Weber State safety Tyler DeBry earned the defensive honor. He had 11 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and a half-sack in a 26-14 win over Sacramento State.

Eric Azorr, whose 40-yard field goal as time expired lifted Portland State to a 44-41 win over Montana State, received the special team award. The Vikings’ win put Eastern in the driver’s seat for the league title with a 3-1 record. PSU, UM and MSU are 2-1. The Eagles have wins over PSU and UM and face the Bobcats in their league finale Nov. 12 at Woodward.

Eastern is now the highest-ranked Big Sky team. Montana State is 18th and Portland State is 25th. Cal Poly, which EWU faces on the road Nov. 5, is ranked second.