Defense delivers for EOU

QUARTERBACK A-WARE-NESS: EOU signal caller Chris Ware threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns during a 45-14 win against the University of Montana-Northern Saturday. The Observer/PAUL HARDER

The Mountaineers’ success continues to be driven by something so simple, playing for each other.

The end result of that mentality during 2009 continues to be wins, a 45-14 victory against the University of Montana-Northern the last in a string of four.

“We all wrote something down that we were willing to give up for the team,” senior cornerback Rodell Razor said. “It’s not about the individual anymore. We are truly a team this season. Not offense or defense — a team.”

The Lights started the scoring with a 73-yard touchdown pass play from Jeff Van Nest to Cody Tchida.

That was one of the last big plays the starting defense surrendered.

“We aren’t doing anything different,” senior Corey Dunn said. “As a unit we’re getting more comfortable with what we want to do.”

The high-powered Mountaineers’ offense took advantage of what their defense gave them all day long.

EOU had a short field over and over as the defense picked off five passes.

Dunn recorded two, and forced a fumble.

Quarterback Chris Ware and the Mountaineer offense took it from there.

EOU ran 95 plays for 582 yards of total offense.

Even when things didn’t look right, it worked out.

The Mountaineers took the lead on a broken play. Ware scooped up a mishandled snap, and found a wide-open Kevin Sampson on a 36-yard touchdown pass.

“I just wanted to keep the play alive,” Ware said. “When you have so many options to work with, that’s what you try to do.

“The defense did a great job for us. They set us up to succeed time and time again.”

The Mountaineers reeled off 45 unanswered points, while the Lights bookended the scoring.

While Camp was quick to praise his players, he also congratulated his coaches.

“It’s a different feel around the complex. We have coaches who coach for a living. This is what they do.

“This is the same team as last year. The difference is that they believe they can do it.”

Ware finished with 32-of-46 for 342 yards and three touchdowns.

Kevin Sampson led the EOU receivers with six catches for 96 yards.

Sampson and Joel Haran each added 51 yards on the ground.

EOU will travel to play No. 2 Carroll College with the top spot in the Frontier Conference on the line.