OGDEN, Utah (December 3, 2016) – And then there was one.
In a day with two games for #BigSkyFB, Eastern Washington will now be the lone team representing the Big Sky Conference, moving forward into the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
The Eagles will host the Richmond Spiders, who earned a win over North Dakota, denying the chance for an all-Big Sky matchup in the quarterfinals. Game time for the quarterfinal game is Saturday at 1:00 p.m. PST.
Eastern Washington 31, Central Arkansas 14 – Eastern Washington overcame an early deficit, powering to a victory in their first FCS playoff game since 2014.
Eagles quarterback Gage Gubrud set a school-record for completions in a game, going 47-of-64, for 449 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore Walter Payton Award finalist also rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, as the Eagles overcame a 14-0 deficit.
Central Arkansas got on the board first, taking a 14-0 lead after a two-yard run by Antwon Wells in the second quarter. Gubrud got the first score, then Cooper Kupp caught a pair of scores from Gubrud, for the Eagles to take a 21-14 halftime lead.
The Eagles largely controlled the clock, and the ballgame, by moving on a 10-0 run in the second half. A two-yard run by Shaq Hill sealed the win with 1:18 left, as Eastern Washington advanced to the quarterfinals again.
Kendrick Bourne was the leading Eagles receiver, catching 13 passes for 126 yards.
The Eagles’ defense played a large role in the win, holding Central Arkansas to 244 yards, and also forcing two turnovers.
Richmond 27, North Dakota 24 – A late rally by the Richmond Spiders catapulted them into a quarterfinal matchup next weekend with Eastern Washington, at the expense of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
North Dakota held a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter, as the Fighting Hawks were using field position and defensive efficiency to control the tempo of the game. UND also benefited from the connection between quarterback Keaton Studsrud and receiver Demun Mercer, as the two combined for a pair of scores.
However, starting with a Kevin Johnson scoring run to end the third quarter, Richmond went on a 20-0 run, punctuated by an 18-yard field goal at the final buzzer, to break a 24-24 tie. The Spiders, an FCS semifinalist a season ago, move on to the quarterfinals, after holding North Dakota to 295 offensive yards.
Mercer had five catches for 122 yards, and two touchdowns.
North Dakota ends the season with a record of 9-3, with the second round loss breaking a nine-game winning streak for the program, which earned its first #BigSkyFB title.