Thursday, March 28, 2024
37.0°F

Eastern back home, but for how long?

by Mark Nelke Sports Editor
| December 13, 2018 12:00 AM

Eastern Washington is playing in the FCS semifinals at home on Saturday for the fourth time in the last seven seasons.

The last three appearances haven’t been good to the Eagles.

EWU lost in the semifinals at Roos Field in Cheney in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Throw in a 1997 semifinal loss at Albi Stadium in Spokane, and the Eags are just 1-4 in the FCS semis.

Of course, Eastern’s only win in the semis came in 2010, when the Eagles beat Villanova 41-31 before knocking off Delaware 20-19 in Frisco, Texas, for their first FCS championship.

Third-seeded Eastern (11-2) plays host to seventh-seeded Maine (10-3) in the semis on Saturday. Maine won at No. 2 seed Weber State last week, so will be making its second cross-country trip in two weeks. Had Weber won that game, EWU would have traveled to Odgen, Utah, for the semifinals.

Maine leads the FCS in rushing defense and ranks ninth overall. The Black Bears allowed just 68.7 yards on the ground this season, and are allowing just 2.11 yards per carry to lead FCS, while EWU is averaging 6.78 per carry to rank second in FCS offensively and 266.6 rushing (10th in FCS). Maine is also second in FCS in sacks.

As for the picks, we both took Eastern last week — though UC Davis made it a much closer game than the last time they were in Cheney for a 39-point beatdown earlier in the season.

That makes me 38-9 on college games, 86-28 overall. Jason is 37-10 and 83-31.

COLLEGE

Maine (10-3) at Eastern Washington (11-2)

Saturday, 11 a.m.

NELKE: Hmm ... Eastern’s offense vs. Maine’s defense. The Eags seem to be able to move the ball on everybody these days.

EWU, 34-20

ELLIOTT: All that flying around catches up with Maine in the fourth quarter. Seems like Eastern has enough mojo going for them.

EWU, 38-34