Eastern Washington never took advantage of crucial situations against Weber State

Didn’t Eastern Washington use to win games like this?

Down a touchdown to Weber State with a quarter to go in a high-stakes homecoming game, surely the Eagles would find a way.

Not this time.

Given four chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter, the Eagles managed only a pair of field goals in a costly 28-20 Big Sky Conference loss to Weber State.

When it was over, the Eagles’ coaches were quick to credit the other guys’ defense.

“They are a formidable opponent for a reason – they are a tough out,” Eastern coach Aaron Best said. “Today they just made a few more plays than we did.”

Weber certainly made the big ones in the fourth quarter. Then again, so did Southern Utah in a 46-28 defeat that magnified the importance of Saturday’s game.

Which begs the question: Are opposing Big Sky defenses catching up to the Eagles?

In their last three games combined, the Eagles have managed just three offensive touchdowns in the second half. Their opponents have eight.

As they did in Cedar City on Oct. 21, the Eagles started quickly on Saturday, needing just seven plays to go 78 yards for a touchdown.

“I think we had one of the best drives in the nation in that first drive,” said Eastern running back Sam MacPherson, who mustered 69 yards on 13 carries. “We just have to leave our foot on the pedal.”

Instead, the Eagles lost traction though mistakes and penalties. With the game tied at 14 late in the first half, Eastern faced third-and-5 at the Weber 26. Center Spencer Blackburn hiked the ball over quarterback Gage Gubrud’s head and the Eagles were forced to punt.

The Eagles slowly lost their way after that.

Late in the third quarter with the game still tied, Gubrud was on the receiving end of a 34-yard trick-play pass from receiver Jayson Williams.

Seconds after Gubrud found the end zone, Roos Field reverberated with a celebratory cannon shot – but the play was nullified by an ineligible receiver downfield penalty.

Eastern put together two strong drives in the fourth quarter. Twice the Eagles had first-and-goal but had to settle for field goals on both occasions.

The second, and most galling, came with 7 1/2 minutes left. Trailing 21-17, Eastern had second-and-goal at the Weber 3-yard-line with a chance to take the lead.

McPherson gained 2 yards, but an off-tackle play was blown up for a 3-yard loss to bring up a pivotal fourth-and-goal at the 4.

Weber called timeout and both sides drew up their schemes.

“We had a play we really felt good about,” Best said.

The Eagles never got to use it, thanks to an offsides penalty that pushed them back to the 9.

“I don’t trust my gut on fourth-and-9,” said Best, who reluctantly sent in the field-goal unit to cut the deficit to 21-20 with 7:01 to play.

Weber answered with a touchdown, and the Eagles were unable to muster a semblance of an answering drive in the last three minutes.