Eastern collects big 42-30 win at Southern Utah

The spare parts Eastern Washington University has collected for its football team appear to be working just fine.

In the absence of All-American quarterback Vernon Adams and rushing leader Quincy Forte, both sidelined with injuries, the Eagles installed Jordan West, Mario Brown and Jalen Moore into the lineup. They meshed just fine in a 42-30 Big Sky Conference win over Southern Utah University last Saturday at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City. Utah.

West, a redshirt sophomore in his first career college start, completed 20 of 27 passes for 288 yards, three touchdowns and an interception for Eastern which improved to 3-0 in conference play and 6-1 overall. Brown had 134 net yards and a touchdown while Moore had a pair of scores along with 133 yards. Each had 22 carries.

"We had guys stepping up all over the place, whether it was offense, defense or special teams," EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said.

West had immense shoes to fill. He replaced Adams who was diagnosed as having broken two bones in his foot in the Idaho State game Oct. 4 and is out 3-6 weeks.

West seemed to slip into those shoes with ease. "I couldn't feel any better," he said. West, who had not started a game since high school in 2011 said "It feels so good to be out here, it's just something else."

After an initial drive that ended with a punt, West guided the Eagles on an 8-play, 80-yard scoring drive highlighted by him completing 4 of 5 passes, the final one being a 29-yard touchdown to Kendrick Bourne that tied the game at 7-7 with 6 minutes, 39 seconds to play in the first quarter.

After SUU (1-2 Big Sky, 1-6 overall) regained the lead 14-7, West put the ball in the hands of Brown and Moore on a 7-play, 80-yard drive that finished with Moore going in from the 3 just 32 seconds into the second quarter.

That started a 21-3 Eastern run which stretched into the third quarter and included the second touchdowns of the game for both Bourne and Moore. It pushed the Eagle lead to 28-17 by the 9:17 mark of the period. Bourne's score was set up by EWU's Tevin McDonald's blocked punt and recovered by teammate Terence McGrady.

Bourne's two touchdowns were part of a 4-catch, 95-yard game. Cooper Kupp, kept off the scoreboard, led the Eagles with six catches and 63 yards.

Trailing 28-17, Southern Utah was back in the game almost immediately as Ammon Olsen and Chris Robinson hooked up on a 74-yard touchdown that made it 28-24 EWU. But on the ensuing drive West passed to Zach Wimberly for 15 yards and a 35-24 lead with 6:02 to play in the third quarter.

Another pair of turnovers - interceptions by redshirt freshman Victor Gamboa - played big parts in preserving, and adding to, Eastern's lead. Gamboa's pick of Olsen in the second quarter came on the Eastern 3. Olsen was later injured and had to leave the game.

"When I sunk back I saw the quarterback throw his arm back and throw a little duck so I just jumped up and made a play," Gamboa said.

Then with 6:44 remaining in the fourth, he snagged a throw from Olsen's replacement, Aaron Cantu that ultimately set up Brown's touchdown, which gave Eastern a 42-24 lead with 1:30 to play.

SUU went on a 7-play, 70-yard drive to close the game with Pete Williams scoring a meaningless touchdown as time ran out.

Safety Zach Bruce led Eastern with eight tackles and linebacker Ronnie Hamlin moved to within 20 tackles of the school record of 432, currently held by J.C. Sherritt.

The Eagles are home this Saturday, Oct. 18 to meet Northern Colorado in Military/Veterans Appreciation Day at Roos Field. The sold out game kicks off at 1:05 p.m. and can be viewed on SWX.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].

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