Seeing red: Eastern Washington is 13-1 at Sacramento State and is 11-0 all-time vs. UC Davis
The opponent that has given Sacramento State and UC Davis football fits over the years is nestled in Spokane County in the Pacific Northwest.
Eastern Washington for years was a powerhouse in the FCS and has overcome a slow start to play a spoiler role while enhancing its chances of recapturing a glimpse of past glory.
The Eagles are coming off a 35-28 victory at Sacramento State and are preparing for FCS No. 6-ranked UC Davis this week on the Eagles’ famed bright red home turf. Eastern Washington is 11-0 all-time against UC Davis since the series began in 2005. Roos Field debuted in 2010, when the Eagles were warming up for Big Sky Conference championships. It goes by “The Inferno”, and it’s burned many a program.
The first 5,000 Eastern Washington fans who show up for the 101st annual Homecoming contest will receive free sunglasses. Not because of the 58-degree temperature forecast for kickoff but to protect from the glare of the red field and a prolific rushing offense.
The effort against Sacramento State last week moved Eastern Washington to 13-1 all-time at Hornet Stadium, and it dropped the Hornets into the cellar of the 12-team Big Sky standings and out of the FCS rankings for the first time since 2018. The Hornets need wins to salvage the season, to stretch their playoff streak to five as their chances of winning at least a share of the Big Sky for the fourth time since 2019 are dashed.
Sacramento State (2-4 overall, 0-2 in Big Sky) on Saturday will host Weber State at its homecoming. The Hornets in their 0-2 Big Sky start have been undone by injuries and the inability to stop the run. Said disappointed Hornets coach Andy Thompson after the Eastern Washington loss: “My heart hurts for our players, for all of our fans. “The standard’s been very high around here. To see (the players) work and not get what they wanted is tough. It’s unfortunate. We’ve got to do a better job.”
The coach added: “We’ve got to get back to practice, go to work, figure out a better way. You get back up. It’s not always far. It’s how you respond.”
UCD’s woes vs Eastern Washington
UC Davis hasn’t fared much better against Eastern Washington. Just over a year ago in Yolo County, the Eagles registered a 27-24 victory over the Aggies in front of an overflow crowd.
“I don’t know what the numbers are, but Eastern Washington doesn’t lose many at home,” UC Davis first-year coach Tim Plough said. “It’s a mistake to think about the past. The red field is unique. It’s the same thing at Boise State with the blue field. That’s a unique thing (Eastern Washington) has, a great place to play. You love to go into those places.”
In the Eastern Washington loss last season, star UCD running back Lan Larison went down with a knee injury, initially feared to be season-ending. The Idaho native was without shoulder pads but kept his No. 3 jersey on in the final quarter of that contest, standing with teammates. Scores of UCD players and coaches embraced Larison after the game, his knee packed in ice, the sense that this was his final Aggies game.
Larison was able to recover quickly. He returned weeks later and finished the 2023 campaign as the Big Sky’s Offensive Player of the Year. This season, the senior has rushed for 664 yards and six touchdowns. He has caught 34 passes for 449 yards and five scores to lead the Aggies.
Miles Hastings is coming off a career-best game against Cal Poly in the 50th meeting between those rivals. The senior passed for 458 yards and four touchdowns on 27 of 30 passing in a 56-10 rout for UCD’s sixth consecutive victory since opening with a competitive loss at FBS-level Cal in Berkeley. Hastings’ passing yards are the fifth most in Aggies history.
No. 6 UC Davis (6-1) at Eastern Washington (2-4)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
On air: Sactown Sports 1140-AM, ESPN+
Of note: The last time UCD played on the red field at Eastern Washington was in a 2018 playoff game, won by EWU, 34-29...The last three games in the series were held in Davis...EWU halted a four-game losing streak this season with the win over Sacramento State to give coach Aaron Best his 50th career victory with the program...EWU is tied for the least turnovers in the FCS with just two in six games...If UCD wins, the seven-game winning streak will be the program’s longest in their 20-year history at the FCS level...Miles Hastings has passed for 2,186 yards for UCD, second most in the FCS this season. His average of 312.3 yards per game is third in the country.
Weber State (3-4) at Sacramento State (2-4)
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
On air: ESPN 1320-AM, KMAX Ch. 31, ESPN+
Of note: Weber State leads the series 13-9, including 7-5 at Hornet Stadium. The series began in 1996...Weber State opened with a 35-3 loss to FBS-level Washington; beat Portland State 43-16 in Big Sky play; lost to Lamar 17-16;, rolled Northwestern State 39-0; lost 28-26 to McNeese; stunned Big Sky power Montana, 55-48, in overtime at a home venue in which Montana had gone 232-35 since 1986; and then were upset in Ogden by Northern Colorado, 21-17. Weber State quarterback Richie Munoz lost three fumbles, including two at the Northern Colorado 1-yard line, and Northern Colorado halted an 18-game losing streak.
This story was originally published October 17, 2024 at 7:00 AM.