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OGDEN, Utah (Sep. 4, 2016) – The Eastern Washington Eagles have experienced FBS wins before, but like Foreigner sang, with each win, “it feels like the first time.”
The Eagles were the first #BigSkyFB team of the 2016 season to upset an FBS opponent, with a
thrilling 45-42 win over Pac-12 Washington State.
Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud threw for 474 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 77 yards and the clinching touchdown- a 30-yard run that gave the Eagles a 45-35 lead.
However, even Gubrud’s performance was overshadowed by receiver Cooper Kupp becoming the FCS’ all-time leader in touchdowns. Kupp finished with three touchdowns and 206 receiving yards, to bring his career total to 59 touchdowns.
Washington State held a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, before the Eagles’ offense jumpstarted in the second period. Kupp scored his first touchdown, on a 75-yard strike that tied the game at 21-21. The Cougars would respond with a touchdown, before Jordan Dascalo kicked a field goal for Eastern as time expired in the first half.
This is Eastern Washington’s first FBS win since 2013, when the Eagles scored a 49-46 upset of Oregon State. Washington State has fallen to a Big Sky Conference program in the season opener for a second consecutive season, as the Cougars fell to Portland State in the 2015 opener.
Montana 41, Saint Francis 31 – It was a tale of two halves for the Montana Grizzlies, under the lights in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, as they hosted the Saint Francis Red Flash.
Trailing 10-6 at halftime, the Grizzlies turned the ball over multiple times in the first half, with quarterback Brady Gustafson struggling to get in rhythm. The second half was a completely different story, as the Griz offense scored 35 points, with Gustafson throwing three touchdown passes, and scoring two with his feet. The second half flurry helped Montana power to a 41-31 win over Saint Francis.
Montana’s defense deserved recognition for the win, as the Grizzlies held Saint Francis to 253 yards, with 73 yards claimed on a late Red Flash touchdown. Also, Griz defender Ryan McKinley picked off Saint Francis quarterback Zack Drayer.
The senior Montana quarterback completed 28-of-43 passes, for 353 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Portland State 43, Central Washington 26 – The Portland State Vikings understand the concept of a team from a lower division upsetting one from a higher division.
A season after upsetting Pac-12 Washington State in the season opener, the Vikings trailed the Division-II Central Washington Wildcats, 26-21, midway through the third quarter. However, Vikings quarterback Alex Kuresa made sure the Wildcats didn’t “Portland State” Portland State, throwing two second-half touchdown passes to help the Vikings to a 43-26 win.
Central Washington led 19-7 midway through the second quarter, but a Nate Tago rushing touchdown, along with a Kuresa-to-Cam Sommer connection, lifted the Vikings to a 21-19 halftime lead.
Tago rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns, while Kuresa completed 16-of-26 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
Northern Colorado 54, Rocky Mountain 27 – The Northern Colorado Bears followed up their best-ever season in the Division I era, with a commanding win over NAIA Rocky Mountain College in week one of the season.
The Bears propelled to a 54-27 victory over the Battlin’ Bears of Rocky Mountain, taking a commanding 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Northern Colorado scored its first touchdown just 1:45 into the game, as Ellis Onic II took a five-yard pass from Jacob Knipp into the end zone.
Northern Colorado finished with 457 yards of offense, as Jacob Knipp threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Also, five different Bears running backs rushed for touchdowns.
Idaho State 47, Simon Fraser 3 – After a season where Idaho State had inconsistency behind center, it appears the Bengals may have found a quarterback.
Idaho State quarterback Tanner Gueller threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, as the Bengals downed the Simon Fraser Clan, 47-3.
The Bengals scored early against the Clan, taking a 7-0 lead 2:28 into the game, as Gueller found K.W. Williams on a 37-yard strike. Williams would finish with 121 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Oregon 53, UC Davis 28 – The UC Davis Aggies are trying to change the narrative around their program.
While the Aggies didn’t pick up a win against the Oregon Ducks, the 53-28 loss identified several strong players UC Davis will have going forward.
One of them will be quarterback Ben Scott, who put the Aggies on the board first, with a nine-yard touchdown run. However, Oregon scored 25 unanswered points, taking a 25-7 halftime lead.
While struggling defensively in the second half, UC Davis had offensive success in the second half, with Manusamoa Luuga scoring three touchdowns.
Luuga rushed for 96 yards, while catching four passes for 51 yards. Scott finished with 303 passing yards.
Arizona State 44, Northern Arizona 13 – The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks were locked in a second-half battle with in-state FBS foe Arizona State.
Unfortunately for the Lumberjacks, the Sun Devils made sure the battle became a distant memory as the game went on, climbing to a 44-13 win over Northern Arizona.
Northern Arizona trailed 10-6 in the third quarter, after the second Griffin Roehler field goal of the game. However, Arizona State would go on a 17-0 run, a run that negated the impact of an 87-yard connection from Case Cookus to Elijah Marks.
Cookus threw for 369 yards and a touchdown, while Marks had 174 receiving yards.
Western Oregon 38, Sacramento State 30 – The Sacramento State Hornets fell at home to the Western Oregon Wolves, 38-30.
The Wolves took a 14-0 lead, a run the Hornets never recovered from. Sacramento State got as close as a 24-22 deficit in the fourth quarter, after Nate Ketteringham found Jaelin Ratliff on a strike.
The Hornets outgained the Wolves on offense, 465-341, but made just 8-of-20 third-down conversions.