Taiwan Jones rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns in EWU's 37-17 playoff win over Southeast Missouri State.
Eastern Washington won't get the chance to avenge its only Big Sky Conference football loss of the 2010 season.
Top-ranked and fifth-seeded Eastern Washington did its part to set up a rematch with the Bobcats, beating Southeast Missouri State 37-17 in a second-round Division I playoff game in Cheney on Saturday.
Montana State didn't do its part. The fourth-seeded and sixth-ranked Bobcats fell 42-17 to North Dakota State in Bozeman. Montana State led 17-14 early in the fourth quarter, but the Bison exploded for 28 final-stanza points.
Eastern Washington (10-2) will take an eight-game winning streak to a quarterfinal game against North Dakota State (9-4). The game will be played at Roos Field in Cheney on either Friday or Saturday. The date will be announced on Sunday.
Eastern Washington junior running back Taiwan Jones rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, while QB Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
Eastern Washington broke open a 17-17 halftime tie when Mitchell hit Nicholas Edwards for a 10-yard score. Mitchell connected with Greg Herd on a 10-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Jones, the Co-Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, scored both of his touchdowns in the first half, hitting paydirt from 1 and 56 yards.
EWU forced four turnovers, including two interceptions. SEMO tossed one interception during the regular season. J.C. Sherritt led the Eagles with 10 total tackles. The Redhawks had just 69 passing yards and eight first dows.
Montana State and North Dakota State were locked in a tight game until an Orenzo Davis fumble set the wheels in motion for a strong Bison finish. Trailing NDSU 21-17, Montana State was approaching midfield when Davis fumbled. North Dakota State recovered, and the Bobcats never did.
The Bison, who completed just one pass for five yards in the entire second half, scored four rushing touchdowns in the final 13:22. Running back D.J. McNorton, who rushed for 207 yards on 26 carries and scored four touchdowns, scored on runs of 19, 38 and 52 yards in the final quarter.
North Dakota State rushed for 376 yards and six touchdowns.
Montana State finished its season 9-3.
For more on Saturday's games, click on the links below
Eastern Washington 37, Southeast Missouri State 17 | Stats
North Dakota State 42, Montana State 17 | Stats