Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

EWU football earns playoff spot

From Herald news services

CHENEY -- Despite starting the year banned from postseason play, Eastern Washington has been selected to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The Eagles (8-3) will travel to Nagodoches, Texas, to play Stephen F. Austin (9-2) on Saturday.

The NCAA ban was lifted late last month, after the university appealed. The Eagles won their last four games to finish tied with Weber State for second in the Big Sky Conference.

That late surge likely persuaded the NCAA committee to give them one of eight at-large berths.

"Words can't really describe how we're all feeling right now," senior linebacker Makai Borden said. "It's just amazing, especially when you consider how we went from such a low to such a high."

Last winter, the NCAA slapped EWU with a one-year postseason ban after uncovering a series of minor infractions that had occurred under the watch of former coach Paul Wulff.

Eastern is one of three Big Sky teams competing in the postseason.

Unbeaten conference champion Montana (11-0) was awarded the No. 1 overall seed and will host South Dakota State (8-3) on Saturday.

Weber State (7-4) will play at William & Mary (9-2) on Saturday.

Eastern last made the playoffs in 2007, beating McNeese State in the opening round before losing to eventual national champion Appalachian State.

Eastern also made the playoffs in 1985, 1992, 1997, 2004 and 2005.