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By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter 

Eagles close out regular season, hope for shot at playoffs

Fourteen seniors likely play last game at Roos

 

Last updated 11/16/2017 at 1:56pm



Fourteen Eastern Washington University seniors will not be playing for a Big Sky Championship in 2017, but they still hope to keep their season going.

That’s where things stand as the Eagles close out the regular season of Big Sky Conference play on Senior Day, Saturday, Nov. 18 when they entertain the Portland State Vikings in a 3:12 p.m. kickoff at Roos Field.

Eastern’s 21-14 win a week ago against the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks was a victory that snapped a two-game losing streak.

The Eagles are currently in a three-way tie for third in the league race at 5-2 with Montana and Sacramento State. They trail Southern Utah, Weber State and Northern Arizona, each with a 6-1 record.

The Thunderbirds and Lumberjacks play this week, guaranteeing one of those teams will improve to 7-1 and at least share the title, as Weber State hosts Idaho State to close the season.

While the postseason hangs in the balance for Eastern, a win also has additional rewards.

“We want to make a statement,” Eastern head coach Aaron Best said of the annual showdown versus the Vikings. “We want to win games, but especially games against opponents that are in our same backyard and we’re fighting against for players in the off-season.

As for whether the Eagles can keep alive their playoff chances alive, first Eastern must defeat the winless Vikings, currently 0-7 in conference play and 0-10 overall.

The road team has won 12 of the last 19 meetings in the series, which PSU leads 20-18-1. Eastern edged PSU 35-28 in Portland last season, and the year before the Vikings handed EWU a 34-31 loss at Roos.

If they can finish the regular season 7-4, the Eagles will chase one of 14 at-large berths in the 24-team playoff field. Eastern has suffered losses to ranked FCS teams with a current combined 25-5 record (9-1 North Dakota State, 8-2 Weber State, 8-2 Southern Utah), plus its other loss was to FBS member Texas Tech, 5-5, after a 3-0 start.

The wait will not be long. The pairings will be announced at 8 a.m. on Selection Sunday, Nov. 19, on ESPNU.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.

Eagles vs. Portland State

No. 18/20 Eastern Washington vs. Portland State, Saturday, Nov. 18, 3:12 p.m. Roos Field (8,600). TV: ROOT. Radio: 700-AM ESPN and 105.3-FM in the Spokane/Cheney area. Larry Weir returns for his 27th season calling the play-by-play, with analysis handled by Paul Sorensen. Broadcasts begin one hour prior to kickoff and include an expanded post-game show.

 

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