The FCS fans have spoken — Eastern Washington at Montana is our FCS game of the week. So what can you expect when the Eagles and the Griz hit the field?
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No. 11 Eastern Washington at Montana
Saturday, September 23, 2017; 6 p.m. CT
Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Montana
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The Eagles hit the road with a 1-2 record after opening the season with back-to-back tough games against FBS Texas Tech (L 56-10) and North Dakota State (L 40-13) before squaring off with Fordham last week (W 56-21). The Eagles are ranked No. 11 in the FCS, the highest-ranked 2-loss team in the country.
Montana is 2-1 after a season opening win against Valparaiso (45-23), a loss on the road at FBS Washington (63-7) and a win at home last week against Savannah State (56-3).
The Griz head into the game without starting quarterback Reese Phillips, who broke his leg last week. In his place, redshirt freshman Gresch Jensen will get the start Saturday. Jensen was in the running for the starting job prior to the season, and finished last week's game against Savannah State with 11 completions on 15 attempts for three TDs and an interception.
Montana's offense this season is averaging just under 300 yards per game (299.7) through the air and another 121 on the ground. Jerry Louie-McGee has 15 catches for 230 yards and two scores, while Samori Toure has 11 grabs for 169 yards and two TDs and Keenan Curran has 164 yards and three touchdowns on nine grabs.
Jeremy Calhoun leads the ground attack with 47 carries for 179 yards and two scores, with Alijah Lee right behind with 116 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.
The Griz allow more than 400 yards per game — 143.3 per game on the ground and 260.0 per game through the air.
FULL STAT COMPARISON: How do Eastern and Montana Match Up?
That's a welcome sight for Eastern Washington and quarterback Gage Gubrud, as the Eagles have struggled a bit through the air after losing a trio of 1,000-yard wide receivers — Cooper Kupp, Kendrick Bourne and Shaq Hill — from last season. Eastern is still averaging 251 yards per game through the air, but Gubrud has five interceptions to just four touchdowns.
After two tough opponents to open the season, the Eagles did right the ship so to say with 399 passing yards against Fordham — Gubrud finished 29 of 41 for those 399 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Gubrud is also a key figure in the running game — he's second on the team with 22 carries for 97 yards and a team-high three rushing TDs. Antoine Custer Jr. leads the team with 123 yards and a TD on 31 carries.
Eastern's defense is allowing 458.3 yards per game — just under 200 yards on the ground and over 260 through the air per game.
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Who will win — Eastern Washington or Montana?
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NEXT: FCS' Best Five Games of Week Four
