Suddenly, Eastern Washington offense is in record-breaking form
In the span of three weeks, the Eastern Washington has gone from fitful to fantastic, from reeling to record-breaking.
After an 0-2 start that saw them score a total of 23 points, the Eagles have put together a three-game stretch that by some standards is the best in school history.
In wins over Fordham, Montana and Sacramento State, the ninth-ranked Eagles racked up 1,918 yards. That breaks down to a 639-yard average that tops anything in the record books.
The only comparable total is from a year ago, when Eastern gained 1,882 yards in wins over UC Davis, Northern Colorado and Montana State.
However, that same 2016 team had a better three-game stretch for points (162) and passing yards (for a school-record 1,441 yards).
The triggerman is the same – redshirt junior quarterback Gage Gubrud, who on Sunday was named the College Sports Madness Offensive Player of the Week in the FCS.
Gubrud also was CSM’s Big Sky Conference player of the week after accounting for 486 yards and six touchdowns in a 52-31 win over Sacramento State on Saturday.
Gubrud completed 35 of 50 passes for 447 passing yards and five touchdowns – his third straight game with at least 399 yards. It was the 14th 300-yard performance of Gubrud’s 22-game Eastern career and his eighth of at least 400.
Gubrud also caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from running back Sam McPherson to put the Eagles ahead 14-0 in the first quarter.
Gubrud had a hand in 57 of EWU’s 86 offensive plays, resulting in the seventh-most yards in school history with 651.
Said EWU coach Aaron Best: “We tested and challenged our offensive line all week, and our wide receivers and quarterbacks because they (Sacramento State) led the nation in picks.”
The Hornets didn’t get any of those either, as Eastern improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Sky going into Saturday night’s game at UC Davis.
Eastern is now ranked third in FCS in passing offense at 358.4 per game and seventh in total offense (484.6).
Gubrud ranks fourth in FCS in passing yards (347.2), third in total offense (368.0), sixth in touchdown passes (13), and second in points responsible for (21.6 per game with a FCS-leading 108 total).
Gubrud will enter the UC Davis game with a 14-4 record as a starter at Eastern, and has helped the Eagles win 10 straight league games.