FULLFULL PAPER SATURDAY, SEPT. 25 INSIDEI GAME VS. E. WASHINGTON D AY NO. 9 EASTERN WASHINGTON AT NO. 17 MONTANA STATE, 1:05 P.M. BOBCAT STADIUM BIG SKY OPENER KICKING AT INSIDE FULL STRENGTH GETTING FASTER? O EWU’s Jones averaging a !rst down per touch I 2 3POINT MARGIN O The Chronicle’s Will Holden handicaps today’s matchup I 6 NEW TURF? O Columnist says, try a new wrinkle to end losing streak I 2 Montana State kicker Jason Cunningham holds for defensive lineman Zach Minter at Bobcat Stadium on Thursday. Because Cunningham was sick in bed, Minter kicked for MSU the last time the Bobcats played Eastern Washington. The teams meet again today in Bozeman. edridden, sweating and have made all those kicks, but I would nauseous, Jason Cunning- Back at normal positions, have given myself a pretty good ham stared at a McDonald’s chance.” commercial and felt like Cunningham, Minter Vegas likely would have as well. he was about to lose the Last week Cunningham was little bit he had managed to ready for revenge 5-of-5 on field goals, one of which Bchoke down for lunch. was from 55 yards, and also notched When the commercials ceased and four (twice), fourth-and-six, fourth- seven touchbacks on kickoffs. For his his feature presentation started, it and-10 (twice) and fourth-and-goal efforts, he was named the national was even tougher to hold down those from the four made the Bobcats, special teams player of the week by saltines and water. healthy and flu-stricken alike, feel The Sporting News. Athletic as he may be, the sight of queasy. As if missing almost half of “It was fun,” Cunningham said of Zach Minter, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound their defense wasn’t sickening enough. the day, which included a 48-21 win defensive tackle, toe-punching a kick- To this day MSU head coach Rob over Drake. “Mostly I would say that 5B BATTLE off will do that to a kicker. Ash says there is no doubt in his mind I’d like to thank my coaches for giving O Manhattan-Three “I almost puked,” Cunningham said. that his team, up 10 with 14 minutes me a chance to hit all those kicks.” In 131 years of football, a kicker to play against a team they hadn’t Speaking of chances to kick, they Forks open district play may have never seemed more impor- beaten in six years, would have won were doled out at the 2009 contest PAGE B1 tant than five defensive starters. But had Cunningham been along for the in Cheney. But after true freshman such was the case when Montana State ride. Instead, they were taken for a backup punter Mackey Nolan, who fell 35-24 to Eastern Washington in ride in the fourth quarter by Taiwan had never even kicked in a high Cheney, Wash., last year. Jones. school game, did his best Charlie As a patchwork Bobcat defense Cunningham and his bedside Brown impression on the first point- managed to hold the high-powered bucket haven’t forgotten. after attempt of the day, the Bobcats’ Eastern Washington offense in check, “There were so many chances when decision was made for them. it was obvious that being forced to go we got into the red zone,” Cunning- PLEASE RECYCLE for it on fourth-and-one, fourth-and- ham said. “I’m not saying I would More KICKING I 5 STORY BY WILL C. 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HOLDEN Weather forecast Chronicle Sports Writer Sunny, high 80 Last year when Robin Pflugrad was an assistant coach, Crowd Taiwan Jones was fast. This year, More than 14,000 expected Pflugrad is a head coach. And Jones is still fast. TV He might even be faster. Pflugrad would know. Jones ABC 28 (Chris Byers, Mike ran right by him last Saturday. Callaghan, AJ Donatoni) See that little white speck flash by on the screen around Radio the Eastern Washington 30-yard KXLB-FM (100.7), Je! Lasky, Dan line as Jones, seemingly hotter Davies, Tyler Wiltgen than the lava-red turf on which he was high-stepping, made his Coaches way past Montana’s entire de- fense for a 72-yard touchdown in the second quarter? Yup, that’s the Grizzlies’ new COURTESY OF EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY head coach. Taiwan Jones carried the ball a career-high 27 times last week against Montana, totaling 221 yards. Considering that run played a big part in his team losing a “It’s just a treat to watch Tai- It’s gotta make it tough not to The group includes the second straight regular season wan on film,” Ash said Wednes- give it to him on every down, 6-foot-5 Brandon Kauff- game for the first time since day. “I think he’s a much better right Beau? man, who raised a few Griz- 2002, one can only imagine running back and football player “Yeah it is,” Baldwin said. “But zly eyebrows last week, as he ROB BEAU Pflugrad is happy Jones was this year than he was last year.” at the same time you want other caught five passes for 114 yards, ASH BALDWIN moving too fast for KPAX’s new As for Jones’ own head coach, guys stepping up. Because if we including a 32-yard touchdown MSU, 4th year EWU, 3rd year high definition cameras to pick he seconded all the talk. rely on Taiwan too much, it can pass that helped the Eagles creep 30th year overall 4th year overall up any facial expressions. “He’s got a year of experience cause other players to regress a back into the game after falling 22-15 at MSU 16-10 at EWU But what was Pflugrad think- under his belt, he’s had another little bit. We have to have other behind 14-0 early. 198-114-5 overall 26-13 overall ing? That he’ll divulge. year in the weight room,” EWU’s guys that can make plays, too.” And after expending all that “I saw it up close and person- Beau Bald- One of energy in beating the Grizzlies Schedules al,” Pflugrad said on this week’s win said. those other in Cheney, Wash., for the first Eastern Washington Big Sky Conference teleconfer- “For most “It was amazing how fast guys is Bo time since 1991 and watch- 14 @ Nevada 28 ence. “It was amazing how fast of last year Levi Mitch- ing the record 11,702 euphoric 28 C. Washington 14 he ran by me. You didn’t even Taiwan had he ran by me. You didn’t ell, who Eagle fans storming the field 36 Montana 27 have time to say, ‘hello.”’ injuries he has made for a second and final time to Today @ Montana St. 1:05 p.m. Montana State Univer- was fight- have time to say, ‘hello.”’ EWU’s embrace a group that included 10/2 @ Weber St. 1:35 p.m. sity head coach Rob Ash has ing. He’s — Robin Pflugrad, UM head coach transi- defensive end Tyler Jolley, who 10/9 No. Arizona 2:05 p.m. watched the tape from that not fight- tion from was sobbing joyfully after only 10/16 @ No. Colorado 1:35 p.m. 36-27 EWU win. And no, Ash ing them former the third game of the season, 10/23 Sacramento St. 2:05 p.m. didn’t chuckle as the Grizzlies anymore.” EWU All-American quarterback Baldwin knows what is sup- 10/30 @ Portland St. 6:05 p.m. trotted back on the field for one The numbers illustrate the Matt Nichols a little less painful posed to come next. 11/13 Southern Utah 2:05 p.m. last play thanks to an unsports- improvement. Jones gained thanks to two years of Football A letdown in Bozeman. After 11/20 Idaho St. 2:05 p.m. manlike penalty on Eagles’ fans 8.8 yards an offensive touch a Bowl Subdivision experience beating MSU for the past seven Montana State for prematurely pouring onto 59 Fort Lewis 10 season ago. In roughly the time with head coach June Jones at straight years, some might go so their new turf. it took for the national media to Southern Methodist. far as to say it’s due. 22 @ Wash. St. 23 Considering he had eight 48 Drake 21 say, “That can’t be right,” Jones While Baldwin said Mitchell “I’ve challenged my guys from Today E. Wash. 1:05 p.m.