On September 3, Eastern Washington University (EWU) faced a challenging start to their football season, falling 34-27 to Northern Arizona in their season opener. However, head coach Aaron Best remains optimistic after reviewing the game film, pointing out numerous positives from the performance.
The Eagles initially took control of the game, establishing a 21-point lead in the first half. Best highlighted that the team demonstrated resilience and skill throughout, stating, "We did some good things in the second half, too. There were a ton of really good things, and we had a chance to win inside the 10-yard line." Unfortunately, that potential game-winning opportunity ended with an incomplete pass, leaving EWU with a record of 0-1 in the Big Sky Conference.
As they prepare for their home opener against Northern Iowa (UNI) on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Roos Field in Cheney, the Eagles are eager to secure their first victory of the season. Redshirt sophomore receiver Jaxon Branch, who recorded seven receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown, expressed confidence in the offense's capabilities. "We obviously didn’t win, but our offense was clicking pretty early. We’ve got to focus on continuing that. We looked dangerous out there," Branch said.
The offensive performance was spearheaded by redshirt junior quarterback Nate Bell, who threw for a career-high 307 yards, completing 30 of 47 passes. This performance marked a significant improvement from his previous encounter with Northern Iowa, where he struggled to find the end zone, contributing only two rushing touchdowns in a 17-14 loss. In contrast, Bell's approach in Flagstaff was more focused on staying in the pocket, with only six scrambles for 18 yards and one touchdown.
Best acknowledged Bell's playmaking ability, noting, "He probably scooted a few more times out of the pocket than we would have liked to, when he didn’t need to, but that’s the kind of playmaker he is. He’s one of those guys where sometimes he’s got to be on the move to make things happen." The efficiency of the offense was also commendable, with only one three-and-out during the game, which was marred by an interception thrown by Bell.
Northern Iowa, which last visited Cheney during the 2021 playoffs, is a familiar opponent for the Eagles. In that playoff matchup, EWU managed to slow down UNI’s offense, securing a 19-9 victory. However, Todd Stepsis, the head coach of UNI, brings a wealth of experience to the game, having previously coached at Drake, where he led his team to a narrow overtime win against EWU in 2021.
As the Eagles prepare for the Panthers, they face the challenge of a team that has yet to play this season. Stepsis noted that watching Eastern's game film provided valuable insights for his team, stating, "When you watch just the coaches’ copy, it’s hard to see the flow of the game and the responses after plays. So, watching them march down the field... it opened our guys’ eyes."
Kevin Allen III, a redshirt sophomore running back for the Eagles, emphasized the growth and maturity of the team since their last encounter with UNI. He expressed optimism about the offensive line's performance, stating, "It was not the final result that we wanted, but I think coming out of that game there is a lot for us to be encouraged about. Everything felt like it was clicking on offense for a while. Everything we wanted to do we could do." With this mindset, the Eagles aim to turn their early-season lessons into a victory against Northern Iowa this weekend.
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