Late score by Jared Taylor seals Eagles win
Weber State wide receiver Treyshun Hurry catches a pass for a first down over the outstretched arm of Eagle cornerback Alphonse Oywak..
Nolan Ulm of Eastern Washington cradles a catch despite having two Weber State defenders surround him in the Eagles 31-23 Homecoming football win Oct. 21 at Roos Field. Ulm had five catches for 60 yards.
CHENEY - This time it was Eastern Washington's turn to win late.
Jared Taylor completed an 18-play, 84-yard drive that chewed up 8 minutes, 40 seconds off the clock, scoring on a 3-yard run with 1:37 to play to lead the Eagles past Weber State 31-23, capping Homecoming week Oct. 21 at Roos Field.
The score expanded a slim 1-point Eastern lead and made sure there was no revisiting the result of the Idaho State game - a 42-41 loss on a field goal with under a minute to play - as the Eagles outscored the Wildcats 14-3 in the fourth quarter.
And while it was offense that got the late lead, Eastern's defense sealed it. Derek Ganter Jr., a true freshman defensive back, who had never played a snap of college football, knocked away Richie Munoz's fourth-down pass at the Eastern 16 with 7 seconds to play.
With the win Eastern snapped a four-game losing streak against Weber.
"It just goes to show you, anybody is capable at any time to make the biggest play, and that what Derek did," said head coach Aaron Best. "I'm proud of not only him but all of those guys who stepped up tonight. A lot of guys had big efforts."
Eastern's other fourth quarter score came with 12:48 remaining from Tuna Altahir on a 4-yard pass from Kekoa Visperas that erased a 20-17 Weber lead.
The Eagles jumped to a 14-3 lead in the first half on short runs by Visperas and Altahir but Weber got a TD and field goal and trailed by one at the half.
Eastern showcased offensive balance with 26 first downs, 14 through the air and 11 on the ground. They threw for 228 yards and rushed for 192.
Taylor led Eagle rushers with 79 yards while Altahir added 61. Nolan Ulm and Efton Chism, III each had five receptions for 60 and 57 yards respectively.
The Eagles used three quarterbacks, though only sophomore Kekoa Visperas attempted a pass, finishing 20-for-27 for 228 and a touchdown.
Junior college quarterback transfers Taylor and Michael Wortham both lined up behind center at times, rushing for a combined 124 yards on 25 carries. At one point, all three were on the field for the same play. The combination was made necessary when running back Justice Jackson was unavailable to play.
"I don't know if anybody in the country has ever had that (used three quarterbacks at once)," Best said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Eastern piled up 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries while holding the Wildcats to 369 yards of total offense. Jaren Banks and Kentrell Williams, Jr. each had five solo tackles. The game was turnover free.
Eastern improved to 3-4 overall (2-2 in conference), while Weber State dropped to 3-5 (1-4).
The Eagles next play at Portland State (3-4, 2-2) at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hillsboro Stadium.
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