Mountaineers look to extend win streak

NOT SATISFIED: EOU will try for a fourth consecutive victory when they return home to Community Stadium Saturday. - The Observer/Chris Baxter

Eastern Oregon’s win against Montana Tech raised its record to 3-1, and 3-0 in the Frontier Conference.

Just after the Mountaineers knocked one monkey off their back — picking up its first road win in three seasons — another one fell off last week.

EOU climbed into the NAIA football polls for the first time since Oct. 24, 2005. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 23.

Head coach Tim Camp and the rest of the coaching staff are keeping the team from getting overconfident before Saturday’s game against Montana State University-Northern.

“We are just a good football team and very fortunate to have won those three games, Camp said. “I addressed that in the locker room in Butte and again on Monday at our team meeting.

“Northern is a very good football team with a very rich tradition. We need to bring our “A” game in all three phases on saturday or it will be a long afternoon at Community Stadium for the good guys. We have grown as a team but more importantly as a program. However, we have a long ways to go before we can talk about rankings and overlooking anybody. Again, we were very fortunate.”

The Lights have won four of the last five meetings. But MSU-Northern has won once at Community Stadium since 2000.

The Lights are coming off a disappointing 21-7 loss to Montana Western last week, that dropped MSU-Northern out of the NAIA poll.

Despite a 2-2 record, also falling to No. 2 Carroll, coach Camp doesn’t expect the Lights to roll over.

“I expect them to be ready to go,” Camp said. “And to show everybody in the Frontier Conference that they are one of the premier teams in the country.”

A big reason for the quick start this season is the top-ranked offense in the Frontier Conference. The Mountaineers are averaging 40 points and 486 yards per game.

The skill players get their names in the paper. But it’s the offensive line that needs more credit.

The line has rejuvenated the rushing attack for the Mountaineers. EOU is third in the conference with 160 rushing yards per game.

“We have been able to stay healthy and rotate a few guys upfront,” Camp said. “We have been better at times this year. We still need to be more consistent in many areas. This is a fun group of young men to coach. They work hard everyday and are getting better each and every day. They have a great attitude and have ‘getting better’ on their minds on a daily basis.”

Sophomore Kevin Sampson is also contributing to the balanced attack. He ranks 23rd in the NAIA in all-purpose yards with 143 per game.

Fellow sophomore Chris Ware is also seeing the fruits of better line play this season. The quarterback is in the top-five in NAIA in five categories. He ranks third in total offense per game with 372 yards per game and passing yards with 326 yards per game.

“The offense has been able to progress very nicely over the past few weeks,” Camp said. “It has a lot to do with how we are playing in the other phases of the game. These kids are

playing at a high level and have been able to take advantage of opportunities that they have earned.”

The game will kick off at Community Stadium at 1 p.m. with live radio beginning at 12:40. Live stats will also be available at eousports.com.