Eastern Washington has been in this situation before.
The No. 7 Eagles won the 2010 FCS national championship. The next season, injuries ravaged the roster, aiding in an 0-3 start with No. 4 Montana State coming to Cheney. EWU rallied to finish the season 6-5 but missed the playoffs and a Big Sky title for the only time this decade.
[restrict paid=”true”]On Saturday, EWU once again is looking for its first win as No. 11 Montana State comes to town. The Bobcats have played just one game — a lackluster 45-14 win over Division II Fort Lewis — while the Eagles have lost a pair of shootouts to powerhouses. In the first game of the post-Vernon Adams era, the Eagles had to face off against the two-time reigning Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP as he began his last season of college football starting for the Oregon Ducks. EWU hung tough behind a record-setting performance by junior Cooper Kupp but Adams and the Ducks’ explosive offense proved to be too much as Oregon won, 61-42.
Last week, again Kupp had a standout performance — He caught nine passes for 179 yards and a touchdown before halftime — but a hip pointer kept him out of the second half as EWU fell 38-35 to No. 14 Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Saturday’s showdown is a non-conference matchup. Each team opens conference play the following weekend. This decade, EWU has won four of five Big Sky titles while Montana State has shared three of them, including the 2010 and 2012 titles with the Eagles. Montana State was the last team to defeat EWU (30-7) during 2010’s title run and the Bobcats won the following year in Cheney, 36-21. In 2012, EWU used a comedy of Bobcat errors to emerge from Bozeman with a 27-24 victory en route to a semifinal run in the FCS playoffs. In 2013, EWU dismantled MSU in Cheney, scoring on all eight of its offensive possessions and setting a Big Sky record for yards per play in a 54-29 victory. Last fall, MSU and EWU faced off in a non-conference game and lit up the scoreboard. A two-point conversion by Adams in the waning seconds lifted EWU to a 52-51 victory.
Montana State ninth-year head coach Rob Ash is 2-6 against EWU in his career, including 1-3 in Cheney.
Adams threw 110 touchdowns and finished as the Walter Payton Award runner-up two years in a row in leading Eastern Washington to back-to-back Big Sky Conference titles. EWU was also the league champion in 2012 when a freshman Adams split time with SMU transfer Kyle Padron. The much publicized, polarizing quarterback led EWU to a 24-2 record in league play over the last three years. Adams shook up the college football world in the spring with his decision to transfer.
“I thought our guys handled it really well,” EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said in May. “We’ve had guys leave early — whether it’s (Oakland Raiders running back) Taiwan (Jones), whether it’s (wide receiver Brandon) Kaufman — so it’s a situation where our guys are used to it and as a program, you are expecting you have to move on without your All-Americans.”
Adams isn’t the only star EWU has to replace. Defensive line stalwart Evan Day, seemingly timeless veteran linebacker Ronnie Hamlin and stud safety Tevin McDonald all depart from a defense few would call dominant. Day contributed for four years, Hamlin leaves as the Big Sky’s all-time leading tackler and McDonald got a training camp invite from the Oakland Raiders. EWU also loses explosive running back Quincy Forte and NFL Draft pick tackle Jake Rodgers.
The cupboard is not bare. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp might be the best player in the FCS. And Baldwin is a proven coach with an FCS title on his resume.
“Vernon leaving doesn’t change a thing in terms of our vision and what we believe we can do in the 2015 season,” Baldwin said. “But you are playing a tough Big Sky schedule and it’s a challenge. It can be razor thin if you are a playoff team or middle of the pack.”
QUICK HITS
Location: Cheney, Washington
Nickname: Eagles
Founded: 1882. Eastern Washington is a public university which is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral Sciences and Social Work.
Enrollment: The school has 13,453 total students and a $52.2 million endowment.
Stadium: Roos Field holds 8,700 fans. Complete with its trademark red turf, the stadium is named after Michael Roos, an All-Big Sky offensive lineman who is currently a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans. EWU averaged 9,432 fans in eight home games last fall.
THE TEAM (7-1 in Big Sky, 11-3 overall in 2014)
The Coach: Beau Baldwin, eighth season at Eastern Washington. Baldwin has established himself as one of the top young coaches in America. The 44-year-old led EWU to a fourth Big Sky crown in five seasons last fall. In his seven campaigns, Baldwin has posted a 45-11 Big Sky record , including just six losses in the last five years. Baldwin is 67-25 in his time at EWU, including a 13-2 mark in 2010 en route to the FCS National Championship.
WHAT TO WATCH — THE OFFENSE
Cooper Kupp, wide receiver, 6-2, 200, junior — Kupp put forth a rookie season seemingly impossible to top. The 2013 Jerry Rice Award winner (FCS top freshman) caught 93 passes for 1,691 yards and 21 touchdowns two years ago.
Last season, the two-time consensus All-America topped the production. Despite Adams missing four games with a foot
injury, Kupp notched 104 catches, the second triple-digit catch season in Big Sky history. His 1,431 yards put him just 1,028 yards away from former EWU wide receiver Eric Kimble for the all-time Big Sky record to begin the season. He already has 425 yards this season, brining him within 603 of the all-time league record. His 16 touchdowns catches in 2014 brought him to within nine scoring grabs of the school and conference records. He has five touchdowns through two weeks, bringing him to within four of Kimble. He has 25 catches this season, bringing his career total to 212, 46 catches away from Kasey Dunn’s Big Sky record.
But Kupp suffered a hip pointer in EWU’s 38-35 loss to UNI. He’s listed as questionable for this week’s matchup with Montana State.
In the second half, sophomore Nick Sblendorio picked up the slack against the Panthers. He caught 10 passes for 158 yards.
Senior Shaq Hill, a three-time All-Big Sky selection, will miss the Montana State game with a knee injury. Kendrick Bourne, an honorable mention All-BSC pick last season as a sophomore, will try to pick up the slack. Bourne has 13 catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns already this season.
Jordan West, quarterback, 6-4, 225, junior — West has already proven he can be a prolific passer in Baldwin’s system. Now he needs to prove he can win like his predecessor.
Despite splitting time with redshirt freshman Reilly Hennessey, West has completed 75 percent of his passes for 642 yards and six touchdowns. Hennessey has completed 69 percent of his passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns as EWU has averaged 482 yards passing in its first two games.
West hadn’t earned a varsity letter until last season. But with Adams out for four games with a broken foot, West averaged 252 yards per game and threw seven touchdowns as EWU posted a 3-1 mark.
Aaron Neary, offensive guard, 6-4, 300, senior — Neary is the leader of an offensive line that figures to be one of the best in the Big Sky.
“He has the most leadership qualities in that group and a lot of experience,” Baldwin said. “But (left tackle) Clay DeBord (41 straight starts) has played a lot of football. He’s a four-year starter at left tackle, which is tough to do at any level in any conference, let alone the Big Sky.”
Neary was first-team All-Big Sky selection and a second-team All-America as a junior. DeBord (6-6, 305) was an honorable mention All-Big Sky selection last season after earning second-team honors as a sophomore. Thomas Gomez (6-3, 295) started all 14 games last season at right guard and returns as a senior. T.J. Boatright (6-5, 29) is a senior starter at center. And senior Cassidy Curtis (6-7, 305) is working on a string of 12 straight starts at right tackle.
THE DEFENSE
Samson Ebukam, defensive end, 6-3, 245, junior — In his breakout sophomore season, Ebukam looked like the second coming of Jerry Ceja, the former standout EWU speed rusher. In his first year as a starter, Ebukam moved up and down the line and earned second-team All-Big Sky honors. He finished fifth in the Big Sky with 7.5 sacks and sixth with 12.5 tackles for loss.
“He’s a talented player and I think his best is still yet to come,” Baldwin said. “We don’t get too many at this level, but he’s a next-level type guy if he can keep it all together with his size and raw ability.”
Miquiya Zamora, linebacker, 6-1, 220, junior — The former prep safety burst onto the scene in his first year as a starter last season. The Pasco, Washington native earned the starting spot at weak-side linebacker as a sophomore and thrived flanking Hamlin. In 2014, Zamora piled up 102 tackles (second on the team), four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He broke up three passes, intercepted a fourth and forced two fumbles.
Zamora has been banged up thus far this year but has still managed 12 tackles, including seven solo tackles against UNI’s zone-read option rushing attack.
Miles Weatheroy, free safety, 6-1, 190, senior — Weatheroy has been waiting his turn. Now that he’s in his final season, he’s producing two games in.
Weatheroy leads EWU with 16 tackles, including eight solo stops and nine total tackles against Oregon. Last week, he had seven solo tackles, including two for loss against UNI. EWU is currently giving up 49.5 points and 380 rushing yards per game, something that reflects your free safety leading you in tackles two games in a row.
Alek Kacmarcik, linebacker, 6-1, 205, freshman — Kacmarcik was one of the top 15 prospects in the state of Washington as a senior at Woodinville High. He has continued that success at Eastern.
As a redshirt, he was the Eagles’ Scout Team Player of the Year. The former Oregon NIKE football camp MVP has proven his worth so far, notching 12 tackles including a pair of sacks last week against Northern Iowa.
EASTERN WASHINGTON vs. Montana State depth chart
END
53 Jonah Jordan, 6-2, 250, freshman
OR
90 Keenan Williams, 6-3, 260, freshman
68 Jim Townsend, 6-4, 230, freshman
TACKLE
55 Andre Lino, 6-3, 265, sophomore
97 Kaleb Levao, 6-3, 290, freshman
NOSE TACKLE
94 Matthew Sommer, 6-5, 310, junior
99 Jay-Tee Tiuli, 6-4, 315, sophomore
BUCK END
91 Samson Ebukam, 6-3, 245, junior
93 Marcus Saugen, 6-4, 210, sophomore
STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER
43 Jake Gale, 6-1, 215, sophomore
35 Alek Kacmarcik, 6-1, 205, freshman
MIDDE LINEBACKER
49 Miquiyah Zamora, 6-1, 220, junior
59 Kurt Calhoun, 6-2, 210, freshman
ROVER
4 Todd Raynes, 6-2, 210, senior
37 Cole Karstetter, 5-11, 180, freshman
CORNERBACK
21 Rashad Wadood, 5-11, 185, senior
OR
27 Victor Gamboa, 6-0, 180, sophomore
CORNERBACK
6 Nzuzi Webster, 5-10, 170, freshman
OR
18 D’Londo Tucker, 6-0, 170, sophomore
24 Asan Neil-Evergin, 5-9, 175, freshman
STRONG SAFETY
8 Miles Weatheroy, 6-1, 190, senior
OR
Zach Bruce, 5-10, 190, junior
37 Cole Karstetter, 5-11, 180, freshman
FREE SAFETY
13 Mitch Fettig, 6-0, 175, freshman
17 Jake Hoffman, 6-0, 170, sophomore
OFFENSE
LEFT TACKLE
78 Clay DeBord, 6-6, 305, senior
74 Nick Ellison, 6-7, 270, freshman
LEFT GUARD
72 Aaron Neary, 6-4, 300, senior
61 Jay Deines, 6-4, 290, senior
CENTER
73 T.J. Boatright, 6-5, 290, senior
75 Spencer Blackburn, 6-3, 280, freshman
RIGHT GUARD
66 Thomas Gomez, 6-3, 295, senior
58 David Delgado, 6-3, 310, senior
RIGHT TACKLE
60 Jerrod Jones, 6-5, 295, junior
OR Neary
QUARTERBACK
5 Jordan West, 6-4, 220, junior
12 Reilley Hennessey, 6-3, 200, freshman
RUNNING BACK
2 Jabari Wilson, 5-11, 200, junior
28 Jalen Moore, 5-10, 195, junior
20 Sam McPherson, 5-10, 190, freshman
TIGHT END
82 Jake Withnell, 6-4, 245, senior
9 Zach Wimberly, 6-2, 240, junior
WIDE RECEIVER (X)
10 Cooper Kupp, 6-2, 205, junior
7 Nic Sblendorio, 6-0, 190, sophomore
WIDE RECEIVER (F)
22 Simba Webster, 5-10, 170, freshman
81 Stu Stiles, 6-0, 170, freshman
WIDE RECEIVER (Z)
11 Kendrick Bourne, 6-3, 190, junior
88 Terence Grady, 6-5, 200, sophomore
SPECIAL TEAMS
PLACEKICKER
76 Tyler McNanny, 6-1, 175, senior
KICKOFFS
45 Jordan Dascalo, 6-1, 200, sophomore
PUNTER
45 Jordan Dascalo, 6-1, 200, sophomore
LONG SNAPPER
39 Curtis Billen, 6-2, 230, freshman
HOLDER
15 Gabe Gubrud, 6-2, 195, freshman
KICKOFF RETURNS
22 Simba Webster, 5-10, 170, freshman
7 Nic Sblendorio, 6-0, 190, sophomore
PUNT RETURNS
7 Nic Sblendorio, 6-0, 190, sophomore
[/restrict]Photos courtesy of Eastern Washington Athletics. All Rights Reserved.
