Big Sky notes: Eastern Washington takes full advantage of bye week

In addition to the usual benefits, Eastern Washington’s bye week has given football coach Beau Baldwin a chance to make a healthy assessment of his team.

The Eagles “as are healthy as we’ve been all year” following Saturday’s 36-26 win over Montana, said Baldwin, who has watched a lengthy injury list shrink dramatically over the past three weeks as the fifth-ranked Eagles get a week off ahead of their regular-season finale on Nov. 21 at Portland State.

Besides quarterback Vernon Adams, the Eagles welcomed back defensive end John Goldwire and safeties Jordan Tonani and Todd Raynes last week.

Several other players would be questionable if the Eagles (9-2 overall, 6-1 Big Sky Conference) had a game this week, but they’re staying in shape in the pool and through other cardio work. The others are getting more reps on the field, as Eastern maintains its usual Tuesday-through-Thursday practice schedule.

Then it’s on to preparation for PSU. Wins over the Vikings haven’t come easily for Eastern, which lost 43-27 at home in 2011, and won nailbiters the past two years (41-34 in Portland in 2012 and 42-41 last year in Cheney).

“We need this bye going into a Friday night game against a very good Portland State team,” Baldwin said.

Recruiting window opens

The other benefit of the bye week: a well-timed recruiting window coming off the Eagles’ third straight win over Montana.

Several assistant coaches are on the recruiting trail this week, Baldwin said.

According to several web sites, the Eagles have offered 30 players. Eastern has five solid commits, including offensive lineman Cody McGuire of Kelseyville, California; cornerback Savion Simms of Fresno, California; Dre Norton, a cornerback from Pasco; offensive lineman Nathan Jacobson of Snohomish, Washington; and offensive lineman Tristen Taylor of Stockton, California.

Bengals in the hunt

Baldwin offered a tip of the cap to Idaho State’s surprising showing this year.

“It’s funny. You could see them coming on last year, but maybe it’s a surprise how big a jump they’ve made this year,” Baldwin said.

“I give coach (Mike) Kramer and his staff and those kids a lot of credit,” said Baldwin, whose Eagles edged the Bengals 56-53 on Oct. 4.

Eastern Washington, Idaho State (5-1), Northern Arizona (5-1) and Montana State (5-1) enter the final two weeks of the regular season tied for first place in the loss column. At the end of Saturday, there will be no more than three as Idaho State plays at Montana State in a game that will be televised by Root Sports.

MSU has a road game at Montana on Nov. 22. Idaho State plays at home against Weber State on Nov. 21. Northern Arizona is at North Dakota on Saturday and closes out the regular season at home against Southern Utah.

Notes

Eastern WR Cooper Kupp has topped 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year. Kupp has 73 catches for 1,013 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. … Northern Arizona has played eight games against FCS teams this season and all have been decided by seven points or less. Northern Arizona is 6-2 in those games. … Home teams won five of the six conference games last week. … Cal Poly has 3,582 rushing yards this season and needs 308 to tie the single-season league record of 3,890 set by the Mustangs in 2012. Cal Poly needs two rushing TDs to tie the single-season league record of 39 set by Montana State in 1966.