FROM NEWS SERVICE REPORTS
Perhaps the best part of Eastern Washington University’s thrilling come-from-behind victory over Portland State was the rest that awaits.
The Eagles, who capped a perfect 8-0 Big Sky Conference season with a 42-41 win over the Vikings on Saturday Nov. 23, received a first-round bye and will host a game Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Roos Field in the second round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.
Pairings were announced Sunday, Nov. 24, and the Eagles will face the winner of the South Dakota State at Northern Arizona Nov. 30. The Jackrabbits are 8-4 on the season while the Lumberjacks are 9-2 after finishing second behind the Eagles in the Big Sky standings.
Eastern received the No. 3 seed, putting it in the same bracket as No. 2 Eastern Illinois. Seeds 1-8 are guaranteed home games through to the semifinals provided they are the higher-seeded team in their match-up. Montana received the No. 8 seed and is in the opposite side of the bracket with top-seeded and two-time defending champion North Dakota State. Southern Utah also made the bracket from the Big Sky, while Montana State was left off after losing its last three games of the season.
Eastern’s last-gasp win over PSU – EWU drove 74 yards in just 29 seconds for a game-winning TD with 31 seconds to play, denied NAU a share of the league title with Eastern. The Lumberjacks finished 7-1 in the Big Sky this year.
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