EOU puzzle taking shape

TO THE HOUSE: EOU’s Rick Copsey is off to the races during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Rocky Mountain College. Copsey returned the kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown during the 58-50 win. The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER

The game played out like a pinball machine battle, with the Mountaineers racking up the most points 58-50.

It didn’t reach last year’s mark of 1,391 total yards between the two teams. Fans at the Community Stadium opener still witnessed the two offenses accumulate 1,229.

“We were able to run the ball in this game,” EOU head coach Tim Camp said. “That allowed us to keep Kasey Peters off the field.”

Peters, the Rocky Mountain signal caller, completed 42 of his 61 passes for 513 yards with four touchdowns.

But the Mountaineer running backs tallied 270 yards — Haran finished with 123 and Sampson finished with 72.

For Sampson, it was his first time showcasing his talents at home. He is one of the former Western Washington University players on the roster.

“It was exciting,” Sampson said. “What a great atmosphere.

“We’re trying to be like the Titans — thunder and lightning tandem.”

The sophomore also chipped in the passing game, catching five passes for 125 yards, including a screen that went for a 48-yard touchdown.

However, the key play came in the third quarter.

With 3:10 left in the third quarter, Chris Ware nearly took a drive-ending sack. As a Battlin Bears defender tried to sack Ware, the quarterback handed the ball off.

“We don’t practice that every day,” Ware said. “Kevin went up to block on the play, and the defender spun me around. I was able to get it to Kevin at the last second.

“It was a huge play because it kept the drive going and we did something with it.”

Sampson’s 13-yard scamper kept the drive alive on 3rd-and-10. Ware kept the chains moving with another third-down conversion, picking up 10 yards.

Another piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit in one spot looked nice in another.

Jordan Jackson made the move from the backfield to wide receiver.

Jackson capped the drive with his second touchdown reception.

“Chris did a great job of putting the ball up so I could go and get it,” Jackson said. “Our connection got a lot better in the spring and continues to get better with each rep we get.”

Jackson hauled in five passes  for 27 yards, and scored three touchdowns.

His final score gave EOU the cushion it needed — 44-34.

Peters tried to lead Rocky Mountain back into the game, cutting the deficit back to 10 points, 58-48, with 37 seconds left on the clock.

The Mountaineers’ ensuing drive started at the 3-yard line.

EOU had a game plan even if the crowd didn’t know what it was.

Ware took a knee on the first play, and ended the drive by taking a safety with 10 seconds left on the game clock. The two points made it a one-possession game, 58-50.

“It’s something we work on every Thursday and Friday,” Camp said. “I knew well before it happened that we would take the safety. I didn’t think there would be 10 second left. I thought it would be more like three.

Rocky Mountain picked up 18 yards on the final play of the game, following a 14-yard kickoff return.

Ware finished the day 22-of-30 for 336 yards with five touchdowns. He also ran for 76 yards on 11 carries, finding the end zone once.

The Mountaineers will travel to the University of Montana-Western (0-1) Saturday for a 1 p.m. MST kickoff.