SDSU at (3) EWU Game Thread

[Screamin_Eagle174]

#13 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (9-4, 5-3 MVFC) at #3 Eastern Washington Eagles (10-2, 8-0 BSC)


Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013 • 1:00 p.m. Pacific
Roos Field (8,600) • Cheney, Wash.

Series: Never met.
TV: None announced yet.
Webcast: ESPN3
Radio: 700 ESPN
Fan Forums: EWU SDSU

Eastern Washington University football fans, get ready for the Zach show.

The Eagles will take on South Dakota State this Saturday (Dec. 7) after the Jackrabbits rode a 249-yard performance by running back Zach Zenner for a 26-7 victory over Northern Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs on Nov. 30 in Flagstaff, Ariz.

This week’s second-round game will take place at 1 p.m. at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash. Information on tickets for the game at the “Inferno” – where EWU is 22-3 all-time – is available at: http://goeags.com/ticket/13playoffs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Zenner rushed for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries against NAU as SDSU scored the last 26 points of the game. Zenner knotted the game at 7 with an 87-yard run, then had a 34-yard TD run in the third quarter to give SDSU the lead for good. Zenner, who had 235 of his yards through the first three quarters, had entered the game ranked second in FCS in rushing with 1,695 total and now has 1,944 for the season.

The Jackrabbits had 399 yards of total offense against the Lumberjacks, who finished with 301. Zach Bauman, who was ninth in FCS entering the game with 1,355 yards, had 114 yards in his first 14 carries, but minus 13 on eight carries after that to finish with 101. South Dakota State out-gained NAU 95-7 in the decisive third quarter.

The Jackrabbits are 9-4 on the season after finishing 5-3 in a four-way tie for second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference behind two-time defending FCS Champion North Dakota State (8-0).

More on the Eagles and this week’s game may be found at: http://www.goeags.com.

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[EWURanger]

Nice work.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Will be updated here.

[fencer24]

I am a Griz fan, but I received my undergrad from EWU, so at least when these two teams play, one of my schools will always win. But I could see that SDSU will be giving a real game this weekend. Zenner is going to have to be accounted for, and I am not sure EWU can do that with man coverage on the receivers. I will still be pulling for EWU. Just not as optimistic as I am for the Griz.

[bluehenbillk]

Could be the best game of the weekend.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Not sure if this was the right EWU/SDSU thread, but I'll go with it because it's so-far dodged the dxck-measuring crap. The Jackrabbits can run the ball & drain the clock, which could give EWU problems, but I don't think they have quite enough pass D to stop Eastern's alley-oop offense. The weather is expected to be similar to the game in Missoula (around 10º instead of 0º), but I think SDSU will need more wind than the forecast indicates for a great chance at an upset.

Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:

• • • Quarterbacks -- Eastern Washington
      
      Running Backs - South Dakota St.
      
      Receivers/TEs - Eastern Washington
      
      Offensive Line - Eastern Washington
      
      
      Defensive Line - South Dakota St.
      
      Linebackers --- South Dakota St.
      
      Secondary ---- South Dakota St.
      
      
      Kicking ------ (push)
      
      Punting ------ Eastern Washington
      
      Return Teams - (push)
      
      Kickoffs ------ Eastern Washington
      
      
      
      
      
      • South Dakota St. 24-35 Eastern Washington

[Gil Dobie]

Going to say the Jacks defense holds EWU to 35 in regulation. EWU defense gives up 35 points in regulation. Let's say 48-45 SDSU in 2OT.