ISU @ #3 EWU
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:06 pm
Idaho State Bengals 1-9 (0-7 BSC) @ #3 Eastern Washington Eagles 8-2 (6-1 BSC)
Saturday, November 20 • 1:05 p.m. Pacific
Roos Field (8,600/Sprinturf) • Cheney, Wash.
Radio: http://www.espnnorthwest.com/patchin-wingmen/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Webcast: http://b2tv.com/upcoming_events.asp?q=v&value=bigsky" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Series History: EWU leads 22-9
Last Meeting: EWU won 38-3 in Pocatello in 2009.
Coming off a 31-24 non-conference victory over Southern Utah on Nov. 13, the Eagles are a win away from the school's fifth Big Sky title, having also won in 1992, 1997, 2004, 2005. Currently, Eastern and Montana State are both 6-1 in the Big Sky standings, with both owning 8-2 records overall. The Bobcats travel to Missoula to play Montana on Nov. 20, and the Grizzlies are currently 5-2 in the league and 7-3 overall.
"We have control of our own destiny in terms of a share of the Big Sky title, and that's a big deal," said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin.
Last week's victory has all but assured the Eagles of a spot in the expanded 20-team FCS Playoffs that begin on Nov. 27. Now, a win over ISU could garner one of the five seeds given to teams that guarantee them a first-round bye and to host games against un-seeded or lower-seeded teams.
"We're excited about the win, but we'll find things in all three facets that we have to improve on," said Baldwin after his team scored the winning points against SUU with 3:39 to play. "But I love trying to make improvements off wins."
Idaho State is winless in seven league games thus far, and has lost nine-straight games after defeating Montana-Western 32-3 to open the year. However, the Bengals lost in overtime to Montana State 23-20 on Oct. 30, and last year ended the season with a 41-34 victory over Portland State to snap a 10-game losing streak and avoid a winless campaign. Also, a week before that win the Bengals nearly beat second-ranked and undefeated Montana as the Grizzlies needed a partially-blocked field goal on the final play to prevail 12-10.
And if you go back to 1998, you'll find a Bengals team that spoiled the Big Sky Conference title hopes of Cal State Northridge with a monumental 32-29 win. All the Matadors needed was a win over 1-6 ISU (2-8 overall) to wrap-up the outright league title and automatic berth in the FCS Playoffs. Instead, Idaho State ended CSUN's season.
"We can't be fooled by Idaho State's record," explained Baldwin, "because they went to overtime against Montana State a couple of weeks ago, and last year nearly beat a Montana team that went all the way to the national championship game. They had nearly the same kind of year as they are having now. We are in for a tough game against a tough opponent regardless of who it is."
