Nothing ever comes easy in the Big Sky Conference.
The second-ranked Eastern Washington University football team hosts a Northern Colorado team on the upswing when the two teams play in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday (Oct. 18) at 1:05 p.m. Pacific time at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash. The Bears lead the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in interceptions and are second nationally in turnover margin.
The Eagles put their 13-game league winning streak on the line this week, having not lost since falling 30-27 at SUU on Oct. 27, 2012. The Eagles are 23-2 in their last 25 Big Sky games dating back to a 0-2 start in 2011. Eastern is also 6-0 all-time against UNC in Big Sky games by an average score of 30-13.
The Eagles enter the game 6-1 on the season and remain ranked second in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 Poll after a 42-30 victory against Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah. Eastern is 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference as it defends the league title it won with an 8-0 record last season.
The Bears, meanwhile, picked up one of its biggest victories in years when they knocked off then 25th-ranked Northern Arizona 24-17 on Oct. 4. Northern Colorado, which is now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the league, then narrowly lost at home 43-38 versus Sacramento State, which at one time this season was an impressive 3-1.
With 14 interceptions this season, the Bears lead FCS and are second nationally in turnover margin with a plus 1.83 for the season (total of 18 takeaways and just six giveaways). Kyle Griffin is third in FCS with an average of 0.7 interceptions per game (total of 4).
“They beat a good NAU team and they play with tremendous passion,” said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. “They create turnovers and it will be an absolute battle. All of our games will be a battle, but it will be nice to come back home after a road win.”
