OGDEN, Utah (December 10, 2016) – FCS football’s version of the Final Four is set, and #BigSkyFB has one of the remaining teams.
The Eastern Washington Eagles powered into the FCS semifinals, thanks to a dominating 38-0 win over the University of Richmond Spiders, from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Eagles controlled the line of scrimmage and took advantage of multiple opportunities, as they clinched a berth in the semifinals for the first time since 2013.
While Eastern Washington’s offense continued to earn praise and adulation, deservedly so, it was the Eagles’ defense that made the biggest mark in the quarterfinal win, as Eastern Washington forced five Richmond turnovers. Eastern Washington forced and recovered four Spiders fumbles.
The turnovers helped repeatedly set up the Eagles on short fields, and Eastern Washington took advantage early and often. The Eagles took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter, as quarterback Gage Gubrud found Nsimba Webster for a seven-yard score. Gubrud threw three first-half scoring passes, including a 20-yard scoring pass to Cooper Kupp, which gave Eastern Washington a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
With a 21-0 halftime lead, Eastern Washington turned over the game to the rushing attack, picking up 151 rush yards in the game. The Eagles also repeatedly held the Spiders on down-and-distance situations, holding Richmond to 5-of-15 on third-down conversions, and 2-5 on fourth-down conversions.
Gubrud finished with 287 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Kupp caught six passes for 128 yards and one score. The pair of teammates are finalists for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, which will be awarded in early January, as part of the FCS championship game festivities.
A moment of personal accomplishment for Kupp came early in the game, as he became the all-time leader in receiving yards in the history of college football, at any classification. Kupp now has 6,284 receiving yards, which is the most for any level of college football, including NAIA football.
The Eagles will host Youngstown State in a semifinal matchup, which is a rematch of the 1997 semifinal, when Youngstown State president Jim Tressel served as the program’s head coach. Current Idaho State coach Mike Kramer was the head coach for the Eagles in that game.
Game times and television will be updated when available.