EWU falls late at NAU in season finale

From wire and news services and local reports 

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Efton Chism III completed his record-setting career, and Eastern Washington had a chance to finish its season by possibly spoiling Northern Arizona’s postseason hopes. 

But the Lumberjacks scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to finish off the Eagles 30-18 in Big Sky Conference play Saturday at the Walkup Skydome. 

Eastern (4-8, 3-5 Big Sky) took the lead twice in the third quarter, the second on a Soren McKee field goal late in the quarter to go up 18-17. But NAU (8-4, 6-2) nswered with Seth Cromwell's 6-yard TD run, although the Lumberjacks failed on a two-point conversion. 

EWU had an 11-play drive but turned the ball over on downs at the NAU 34 with 8:46 to play. The Lumberjacks then put together a 12-play, 66-yard drive, clinching the game on quarterback Ty Pennington's 12-yard run with 2:17 to play. 

“We did what we could with the lead late in the third. We just couldn’t get off the field defensively and they made us pay when they stayed on the field,” Eastern coach Aaron Best said. “We battled all game. It was a ranked opponent on the road, in conference, trying to defend its undefeated record at home and trying to make the playoffs. We hung in there, but it's a 60 minute game, not a 45 minute game at the end of the day.” 

Pennington was 15-of-29 passing for 312 yards and Northern Arizona piled up 539 yards. Cromwell ran for 112 yards. Tay Lanier had five catches for 122 yards and Kolbe Katsis had three for 130, with both reaching the end zone. 

Jared Taylor threw for two touchdowns for Eastern Washington, which had 301 yards after piling up 77 points and 478 yards rushing a week earlier. One of the touchdowns was a 67-yard connection with Chism, who had 13 catches for 119 yards. 

Chism, a senior who caught a pass in every game of his career and is the FCS leader with 120 receptions for 1,311 yards, broke Cooper Kupp's school record for receptions in a season. 

It was Chism’s 53rd consecutive game with a reception, breaking Kupp’s 52-streak for the Eastern and FCS record. Chism also broke Kupp’s single-season EWU reception record of 117 receptions in 2016.

“It means a lot to pass [Kupp], especially when you look at all of his records,“ Chism said. "Half of them are untouchable in the FCS, especially career yards and touchdowns. I don’t think those will ever be broken. When I get one on him, it feels really special and I’ll never forget that.” 

NAU will learn its playoff fate today during the FCS playoffs selection show (9:30 a.m., ESPNU).