Turnovers took toll during Eastern Washington’s loss to Southern Utah

CEDAR CITY, Utah – As the Eastern Washington players trudged off the Eccles Coliseum field on a chilly Saturday night, they offered the same refrain.

“You’ve got to give it up to Southern Utah.”

More than one Eagle uttered those words following a 46-28 loss that knocked Eastern out of first place in the Big Sky Conference.

That’s gracious enough, but giving up the ball to Southern Utah – four times – is another matter.

All month, the Eagles on both sides of the ball talked about the getting out of the red and getting that dreaded turnover margin back in the black.

Going into Saturday night, it stood at minus-eight.

Now it’s negative-11 after three interceptions and a fumble. All of them loomed large in Eastern’s first Big Sky defeat in 13 outings.

“The turnovers definitely played a big role in that,” defensive end Keenan Williams said. “But we have to find a way to tighten up.”

Worse for the Eagles, each turnover cost them more dearly than the one before.

“The penalties (six of them, for 85 yards) and turnovers caught up with us, on top of playing a physical outfit. We couldn’t match that physicality,” Eagles head coach Aaron Best said.

Another problem: Eastern isn’t forcing turnovers. After eight games, the Eagles’ defense has just three picks and six fumble recoveries.

Saturday’s first turnover was innocuous enough.

Midway through the first quarter with EWU leading 7-0, Antoine Custer Jr. rumbled for a first down at the Southern Utah 17, then was stripped of the ball.

The Eastern defense negated that one. Southern Utah also didn’t capitalize on the next one, Gage Gubrud’s first of three interceptions at midfield.

Gubrud’s second pick – on a sideline pass at midfield – was cashed in for a field goal that put the Thunderbirds up 25-21 late in the third quarter.

The turnovers didn’t affect the Eastern defenders’ morale, safety Mitch Fettig said.

“As a defense, we’re always excited to get on the field, and we’re always trying to come off successfully,” Fettig said.

After the teams traded touchdowns, Eastern trailed 32-28 but got a big kickoff return from Dre’Sonte Dorton.

Then the yellow flag came out: holding on Eastern.

Backed up on his 9-yard-line, Gubrud ran for 4 yards. On the next play, he looked to go deep but reconsidered. About to be tackled, he attempted a shovel pass that was easily intercepted by Jalen Russell at the Eagles’ 15.

Three plays later, Southern Utah scored again to take a 39-28 lead with 6:24 left.