Football Notes - Semifinal Edition
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Eastern Washington takes on Towson in a Division I semifinal contest on Saturday in Cheney, Wash. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU. The No. 3 seeded Eagles are making their third semifinal appearance in the last four years, and are looking for the program's second trip to the national championship game. Eastern Washington brings a 10-game winning streak into Saturday's showdown against the Towson Tigers of CAA Football. The Eagles are 7-0 at Roos Field this season, and 24-3 all-time on the red turf. Towson has won all eight of its road games this season. The Tigers are in the semifinals for the first time in school history. Both teams are 12-2. The winner advanced to the 2014 Division I National Championship game on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. Two-time defending national championship and top-ranked North Dakota State plays New Hampshire in the other semifinal on Friday night in Fargo, N.D.
This Week’s Sky Schedule
SEMIFINAL
Saturday, Dec. 21
Towson (12-2) at E. Washington (12-2), 11:05 PST
Location: Cheney, Wash. (Roos Field)
Series: First Meeting
TV: ESPNU
Internet: WATCH ESPN
Announcers: Mark Neely, Jay Walker.
Eastern Washington By The Numbers
79
Touchdowns scored by EWU this season, a Big Sky single-season record. The previous record was 72 by Idaho in 1993.
561
Points scored by EWU this season, a Big Sky single-season record. The previous mark was 537 by Montana in 2009.
70
Extra points made by EWU this season, a Big Sky single-season record. The previous mark was 68 by Idaho in 1993.
7,422
Yards of offense this season by EWU, a Big Sky single-season record.
7.7
Average yards per play by EWU’s offense, which is on pace to set a Big Sky single-season record. The current record is 7.4 yards per play by Idaho in 1993.
53
Passing touchdowns this season by Vernon Adams, which is tied for the national lead, and just three behind the all-time FCS record held by Mississippi Valley State’s Willie Totten and Grambling’s Bruce Eugene.
4,600
Passing yards by Vernon Adams, a Big Sky single-season record. The mark ranks fourth in FCS single-season history
14
Consecutive games Cooper Kupp has caught a TD pass, an FCS record
5,140
Yards of total offense this season by Vernon Adams, a Big Sky single-season record. The mark ranks third in FCS single-season history.
21
TD catches by freshman Cooper Kupp, a Big Sky single-season record, and the most ever by a freshman in FCS
85
Catches by Cooper Kupp, an FCS freshman single-season record, and a mark that ties for 12th in Big Sky single-season history.
1,567
Receiving yards by Cooper Kupp, an FCS freshman record, and
9
Combined points EWU has allowed in the third quarter of its last seven games. EWU has scored 113 points in the third quarter of its last seven games.
24-3
EWU’s record on the red turf at Roos Field, which was installed in 2010.
7-1
EWU’s record at Roos Field on the red turf in the playoffs.
13-1
Touchdown passes Vernon Adams has thrown in four career playoff games.
10
Consecutive victories by EWU. The streak is the second-longest active streak in the nation.
392
Rushing yards gained by Quincy Forte in two playoff games.
11-0
EWU’s record this season when leading or tied at the half.
3
Defensive players with more than 100 tackles. Ronnie Hamlin has 139, T.J. Lee has 105, and Cody McCarthy has 102.
19-1
EWU’s record in November and beyond since 2010.
8
Playoff victories coached by Beau Baldwin since 2010.
73
Career TD passes by Vernon Adams in 26 career games. The Big Sky All-time record is 98.
2-0
EWU’s record vs. CAA teams in the playoffs. EWU beat Villanova in the 2010 semifinals, and Delaware in the national championship game.
181
Receiving yards last week by Ashton Clark, a career-high.
Around the Big Sky
The 4-1-1-1: Eastern Washington became the second team in league history to have a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers. Running back Quincy Forte surpassed 1,000 yards in the quarterfinal win over Jacksonville State, while receiver Ashton Clark surpassed 1,000 receiving yards. Entering Saturday’s semifinal against Towson, QB Vernon Adams has 4,600 passing yards. Forte has 1,131 rushing yards. Freshman Cooper Kupp has 1,567 receiving yards, and Clark has 1,104. Weber State’s 1991 team was the first to accomplish the feat. That year, Jamie Martin threw for 4,125 yards. Geoff Mitchell rushed for 1,170. Alfred Pupunu tallied 1,204 receiving yards, and Dave Hall had 1,043. In 2005, Eastern Washington had a 4,000-yard passer in Erik Meyer and two 1,000-yard receivers in Eric Kimble and Raul Vigil. EWU also had a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard receivers in 2011 when Bo Levi Mitchell therw for 4,009 yards, and Nicholas Edwards and Greg Herd surpassed 1,000-receiving yards. In 2008, Weber State had a 4,000-yard passer (Cameron Higgins), a 1,000-yard rusher (Trevyn Smith), and a 1,000-yard receiver (Tim Toone). In 1989, Idaho had a 4,000-yard passer (John Friesz) and two 1,000-yard receivers.
FOUR SKY PLAYERS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS: Four Big Sky Players were named to the prestigious Capital One Academic All-America Football team. The squad includes players from the FBS and the FBC level. Montana State wide receiver Tanner Bleskin and Northern Arizona linebacker Austin Hasquet earned First Team honors. Southern Utah kicker Colton Cook, and Thunderbird defensive end James Cowser were selected to the second team. Hasquet, a junior from Peoria, Ariz., maintains a 3.95 grade point average in biomedical sciene. Bleskin, a senior from Great Falls, Mont., had a 3.85 GPA in microbiology. Bleskin was named to the team for the second straight season. Cowser, a sophomore from Fruit Heights, Utah, has a 3.99 GPA is psychology. Cook, a graduate student from Centerville, Utah, has a 3.66 GPA in business administration.
DALY A FINALIST FOR HENDRICKS AWARD: Montana State senior Brad Daly was tapped as one of six finalists for the 2013 Hendricks Award, presented to college football’s top defensive end. Daly is the only finalist from an FCS school, and in fact is the first FCS player to make it this far in the process in at least the past three seasons. He joins Vic Beasley from Clemson, Shilique Calhoun from Michigan State, Jackson Jeffcoat from Texas, Michael Sam from Missouri, and Marchus Smith from Louisville. A 6-1, 240 lb senior from Helena, Daly currently leads all of NCAA Division I football with 14 sacks. His 1.2 per game is tied for the most in the FCS, and his 20.5 tackles-for-loss this season is tied for the most in the FCS. Daly was named Big Sky Defensive Co-Player of the Year last week, along with First Team All-Big Sky. He finished his career with 45.5 tackles-for-loss, tied for eighth in Bobcat history, and 34 sacks, the fourth-best total by a Bobcat.
WEBER STATE NAMES NEW COACH: Weber State University has named Jay Hill its new head football coach. Hill, a longtime assistant coach at the University of Utah, becomes the 11th head coach in Weber State football history. He comes to WSU with a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the West and has spent time working for three different head coaches at Utah. Hill, 38, has spent the last 12 years at Utah, including the last eight seasons as a full-time assistant coach under Kyle Whittingham. Prior to that, he spent four years as a graduate assistant and administrative assistant with the Utes under legendary coaches Ron McBride and Urban Meyer.
BAUMAN, TRIPP TO PLAY IN SHRINE GAME: Northern Arizona running back Zach Bauman and Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp have been selected to play in the annual East-West Shrine Bowl. Bauman recently completed his career third on the Big Sky Conference’s all-time rushing list. He was named First Team All-Conference three times. Tripp was a two-time All-Big Sky selection. The 89th Shrine Game will be played Jan. 18 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Mountain, and the game will be televised live on the NFL Network.