Time for traditional season-ending game between Eagles, Vikings
A fourth-quarter UC-Davis fumble that quickly turned into an Eastern Washington touchdown, proved to be an uplifting experience for Eagles' defensive lineman Jim Townsend. Eastern's 59-20 win created a three-way tie on top of the Big Sky Conference standings with Davis and Weber State with one week to go in the regular season.
For the last seven years, Eastern Washington and Portland State have met to conclude their respective Big Sky Conference football seasons.
And in five of those it has had some sort of championship or postseason bearings dangling, just like on the outcome in Friday's meeting at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, Ore.
Their 59-20 victory Nov. 10 over then No. 4/7 UC Davis moved EWU into a first-place tie in the league and puts the Eagles a win over PSU from the school's 10th Big Sky Conference title and a 13th berth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Those Eagles-Vikings' battles have been as wild and exciting and pivotal in Eastern's Big Sky crowns won in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Such as in 2013 when the teams exchanged two touchdowns in the final two minutes - Eastern scoring with 31 seconds remaining on a Vernon Adams to Cooper Kupp connection - for a 42-41 win at Roos Field and an undefeated Big Sky season.
In 2015, however, PSU wrapped up a bye in the playoffs with a 34-31 victory over EWU at Roos.
"Lately it's been the last game of the year, so most of the time there has been something to play for either on our side or their side," Eastern head coach Aaron Best said. "We seem to be playing for potential bids to the playoffs and Big Sky championships."
The Eagles have put themselves in this position thanks to a three-game winning streak in which they've outscored opponents by an average score of 48-15 and a 598 – 341 average advantage in total offense.
And surprise, surprise, Eastern, 6-1 in league play and 8-2 overall, has more than doubled its opponents in rushing yards, 851-401 in those three games, and turnovers forced by a 9-3 margin.
After putting together a three-game winning streak at the midway point, including a big 22-20 upset win in Missoula over Montana, PSU has lost two straight, sitting 3-4 in the conference, 4-6 overall.
"Most importantly, we need to play our game," Best said, discounting the need to have added pressure due to what's at stake. "We can't get caught up into where we are playing and who we are playing or how we are playing; we have to get to our ninth victory."
With a win, Eastern should clinch a playoff spot. Where they play, however, is uncertain considering that UC Davis and Weber State are all currently in a tie at the top of the Big Sky standings. There are too many possible scenarios at play and too little space to explain.
The FCS Selection show where first-round byes are announced, and playoff pairings revealed in the 24-team bracket, takes place Sunday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m. on ESPNU.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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