Eagles Fight Until the End: Inside Details as EWU had the counter with Wortham, this time on the ground

The Eagles displayed a strong fight on the sidelines Saturday afternoon at Roos Field, but ultimately fell short against No. 2 Montana State, losing 42-28. This defeat marks Eastern Washington’s third consecutive loss in the Big Sky Conference, leaving them with a conference record of 1-4 and an overall record of 2-7.

Head coach Aaron Best spoke positively about quarterback Jared Taylor, noting his effectiveness despite not being flashy. “Jared has played well in the past, and although he made one mistake, it didn’t really cost us the game,” Best said. “The players trust each other, no matter who’s on the field. We’ve adapted to injuries, and I think we utilized our quarterbacks’ strengths well. After Ahmani Williams’ interception, we were in a strong position at 35-28, but we couldn’t secure the downs needed to tie against a tough opponent.”

Montana State initially took control of the game, leading 14-0 before Eastern mounted a comeback with a touchdown drive from Taylor to Efton Chism III. After trailing 28-14 at halftime, Eastern surged back with two unanswered touchdowns, tying the game at 28 thanks to Tuna Altahir’s contributions in both rushing and receiving.

However, Montana State responded with significant offensive plays, including a 76-yard run and a 61-yard pass, to pull away from Eastern again.

Eastern rushed for 246 yards on 39 attempts, whereas Montana State managed 328 yards on 43 carries. Taylor set a personal record, passing for 144 yards with 20 completions on 27 attempts, along with two touchdowns. He also rushed for a career-high 80 yards on 25 carries. Altahir contributed significantly with 12 carries for 74 yards and two receptions.

“I’m proud of the team, especially for how we performed in the third quarter,” Best noted. “We had positive moments on both sides of the ball. Against a top-5 team, we need to capitalize on turnovers, and we fell short, giving them opportunities that built momentum.”

Scoring Recap:

Montana State scored first with a 1-yard touchdown run, capping off an 11-play, 87-yard drive. Following an Eastern fumble, they added a 19-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-0 lead. Jared Taylor responded for Eastern with a touchdown pass to Efton Chism, narrowing the gap to 14-7.

The Bobcats scored again on their next possession with a 20-yard run, extending their lead to 21-7. Eastern then countered with a 75-yard touchdown run by Michael Wortham, closing in at 21-14. Montana State, however, concluded the half with a 4-yard touchdown run, leading 28-14.

In the second half, the Eagles scored first, with Taylor connecting with Tuna Altahir for a touchdown, reducing the deficit to 28-21. They quickly tied the game at 28 after Altahir scored again on an 11-yard rush.

That tie was short-lived, as Montana State retook the lead with a 76-yard touchdown run by Mellot, followed by a 61-yard touchdown pass, sealing the game at 42-28.

Eagle Notes:

• Efton Chism III caught his 33rd career touchdown, moving him into a tie for third place on the all-time list with Nicholas Edwards and Brandon Kaufman, finishing with 9 catches for 78 yards.
• Michael Wortham had a standout performance with 92 yards on two carries, including a 75-yard touchdown, his second rushing touchdown of the season.
• Eastern rushed for over 200 yards for the second straight game and the sixth time this season.
• Ahmani Williams recorded his first career interception and made two tackles.
• Tuna Altahir achieved both a rushing and a receiving touchdown in a single game for the fifth time in his career.
• Brock Harrison had his third sack of the season, bringing his career total to 9.5.
• Derek Ganter Jr. recorded 11 tackles for his third consecutive game with double-digit tackles, while Matthew Brown matched his career high with 10 tackles.
• Montana State won the turnover battle 2-1, securing an interception and recovering a fumble.

Next Up: Eastern Washington will travel to face Northern Colorado next Saturday (Nov. 9) at 11 a.m. Pacific Time.