Eastern Washington has proven to be a pest for Pac-12 foes
Eastern Washington has been a pest for its Pac-12 opposition.
Since 2011, the Eagles’ six games against the likes of Washington State, Washington, Oregon and Oregon State have been decided by an average of 6.3 points.
Four were decided by four points or less. Just one, a 61-43 loss at Oregon in 2015, was a double-digit decision. EWU outgained its big-school foe in five of the six games.
If history is any indication, EWU’s third meeting with Washington State since 2012 on Saturday will be a white-knuckle affair.
2011: Washington 30, EWU 27
The Eagles’ first game since winning the 2010 FCS national title. Bo Levi Mitchell and the Eagles doubled up the Huskies in yards (504-250) and reached the red zone for a chance to win or tie in the final minute. The Huskies’ Desmond Trufant intercepted Mitchell in the end zone with 29 seconds left, however, to ice the game. The Eagles led 10-7 late in the first quarter, but trailed the rest of the way.
2012: Washington State 24, EWU 20
EWU QB Kyle Padron’s Hail Mary nearly fell into the hands of receiver Nick Edwards in the final seconds, but was batted away. The Eagles’ offense outgained the Cougars 469-355. EWU never led.
2013: EWU 49, Oregon State 46
Sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams had his way with the Beavers in Corvallis, passing for 411 yards and rushing for 107, including the game-winning touchdown run with 18 seconds left. The Eagles outgained the Beavers 625-527.
2014: Washington 59, EWU 52
The Huskies put EWU in a quick 21-0 hole. EWU, behind Vernon Adams’ 475 passing yards and seven touchdowns, rallied to take a 45-44 lead in the fourth quarter, but it wouldn’t last. EWU outgained the Huskies 573-536.
2015: Oregon 61, EWU 43
Vernon Adams was on the field, but he wasn’t wearing red. Adams, a graduate transfer QB for Oregon, helped the Ducks jump out to a 13-0 first-quarter lead in a game Oregon never trailed. Adams passed for 246 yards and two touchdowns against his former squad, and rushed for 94 yards. Cooper Kupp scorched the Ducks’ secondary, hauling in 15 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Oregon outgained the Eagles 731-549.
2016: EWU 45, Washington State 42
Akin to Adams’ dismantling of Oregon State three years prior, redshirt sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud, a former walk-on, had a sterling debut as a starter in Pullman, accounting for more than 500 total yards and the deciding touchdown run in the final minutes. EWU outgained the Cougars 606-515.
