Even though the defending champions are in the rearview mirror, the Eagles still have their work cut out for them.
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Eastern Washington University football team tries to stay in the thick of the Big Sky Conference race when it hosts Montana State this Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at Woodward Field.
Eastern will be playing in its 83rd annual Homecoming game, with a 47-32-3 record in the previous 82. The school will also retire the No. 71 jersey previously worn at Eastern by Michael Roos (2001-2004), who is now an All-Pro tackle for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL.
Coming off losses to nationally-ranked foes Montana (41-34) and Weber State (31-13), the Eagles are hoping to regain their winning form against the Bobcats. Eastern is not in this week's Sports Network NCAA Football Championship Subdivision top 25 poll and brings a 3-2 lead record and 4-3 overall mark into this Saturday's game.
“We'll fight in practice, work hard, keep our heads up high and look to play well against Montana State,” Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin said. “We'll give it everything we have.”
Montana State was ranked 24th nationally before falling 23-10 to Northern Arizona on Oct. 10, and received enough votes this week to rank 32nd. The Bobcats are coming off a 31-24 overtime victory over South Dakota in a non-league game, and enter this week's game 2-1 in the Big Sky and 4-2 overall.
Eastern and Montana State both knocked off Northern Colorado but each had different results against Weber State. Eastern lost at home to the Wildcats while MSU registered a huge 26-21 road win over the defending Big Sky co-champions a week earlier on Oct. 3.
“They are solid in everything and against everyone,” Baldwin said. “They are great defensively, and it really showed in their game against Weber State.”
Recent history is on the side of the Eagles in a series that has seen EWU come out on top in 24 of 32 meetings. Eastern has won the last six meetings and 15 of the last 18. In fact, Eastern has not lost to Montana State in the last six times they have met at Woodward Field.
While last week's narrow loss to Montana was disappointing, an even more devastating blow came on Eastern's final touchdown of the game when senior wide receiver Aaron Boyce crumpled to the ground with an Achilles tendon injury. He ends his EWU career ranked second all-time in receptions (222), reception yards (3,330) and touchdown receptions (29).
“Our hearts go out to him - you never want to see something like that happen, especially to a person like Aaron,” Baldwin said. “He has done so many great things on the field and has been a great leader.”
Following this week's game, Eastern plays a home game across the Cascade Mountains on Halloween Day in the “Showdown on the Sound.” The Eagles will host Portland State on Oct. 31 in a Big Sky Conference game that begins at 1 p.m. at Qwest Field in Seattle.
Game Promotions/Tickets
Eastern's next home game is Oct. 24 for Homecoming and Michael Roos Jersey Retirement Day when the Eagles host Montana State (1:05 p.m. Pacific time). Eastern will be playing in its 83rd Annual Homecoming game, with a 47-32-3 record in the previous 82. Eastern will also retire the No. 71 jersey previously worn at Eastern by Roos (2001-2004), who is now an All-Pro tackle for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL. The game sponsor is Comcast. It will also be Special Olympics Day and Kiwanis Day. Ticket information is available at http://goeags.com/tickets/ewas-ticketcentral.html or by calling 1-866-4GO-EAGS. Tickets may now be purchased at the on-campus EWU Bookstore, which opens at 7:30 a.m. on the day of games.
EWU vs. Montana State
TV: SWX (SWX Digital 6.2, Cheney Cable 12, Comcast 115, Time Warner 306, Charter 287); Max Media Montana. Radio: 1510-AM in Spokane. Webcast: http://www.bigskytv.org. Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWUAthletics
Reader Comments(0)