One thing that likely will not startle Central Arkansas when they first see the red Sprinturf at Roos Field for the first time will be its color.
The Bears have their own wild-looking turf at Estes Stadium in Conway, Ark. where they dispatched Illinois State, 31-24, Nov. 26 in a first-round Football Championship Subdivision playoff.
Playing on what is nicknamed, “The Stripes,” — alternating 5-yard swatches of purple and white — the 14th-ranked Bears, down 17-7, scored 24 fourth quarter points to rally past the Redbirds and earn a quarterfinal matchup with the No. 3 Eagles on the Inferno this Saturday at 1:05 p.m.
Central Arkansas used some extra-special, special teams play to top Illinois State with a blocked punt and return for a touchdown from Jakari Dillard that made it a 17-14 game. UCA got 10 of its 14 first downs through the air and arm of Hayden Hilderbrand, who was 18 of 36 for 268 yards.
“There is an explosiveness to their football team that will make it tough on us,” Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin said. “That’s why they’ve won 10 games this year.”
Concerned about special teams’ play, Baldwin said on his weekly coaches’ show, ”We have to be on our toes.” Eastern has never played Central Arkansas out of Conway, located in the near geographic center of the state.
Eastern will counter with the one-two punch of the Big Sky Conference Co-Offensive Players of the Year in receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Gage Gubrud, plus first-team All-Big Sky defenders, Samson Ebukam, Jay-Tee Tiuli, Miquiyah Zamora and Zach Bruce.
The Bears are making their third appearance in the FCS playoffs, and were a NAIA power before moving to NCAA Division II and eventually NCAA Division I. They won NAIA titles in 1984, 1985 and 1991.
The Eagles enter this year’s playoffs 10-1 as the No. 2 seed and as long as they keep winning they will host games up to the national championship game on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. They return to the postseason after missing in 2015.
Eastern could potentially play fellow unbeaten league champion North Dakota (9-2) in the quarterfinals should the Fighting Hawks win at home Saturday against Richmond, a 39-10 winner over North Carolina A&T.
Since 2010, the year they won the national title, EWU has hosted 11 playoff games at Roos Field, winning eight. Eastern also hosted three games in 2012 and 2013, but lost in the semifinals both seasons. Eastern hosted two more playoff games in 2014, falling in the quarterfinal round to Illinois State.
Eagles vs. Bears
FCS No. 3 Eastern Washington will play its first playoff game on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1:05 p.m. at Roos Field versus Central Arkansas. TV: ESPN3 (www.watchespn.com). Radio:700-AM ESPN in Spokane. Larry Weir calling the play-by-play, with analysis handled by Paul Sorensen. Broadcasts begin one hour prior to kickoff. Cheney watch parties: Wild Bill’s Long Bar.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaneyatcheneyfreepress.com.
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