Box Score

ATHERTON, Calif. – The Eastern Oregon University football team opened up its 2014 season with a 45-27 win over Menlo (Calif.) Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers used a strong fourth quarter to put the game out of reach as EOU scored 22 unanswered points.
 
Zach Bartlow led the way for the Mountaineers as he was 23-of-33 passing for 391 yards and four touchdowns. Bartlow also rushed for one touchdown on the day. Justin Hernandez led the receiving core with 118 yards and two touchdowns. Gary Posten picked up right where he left off during the 2013 season as he led the Mountaineers with nine tackles.
 
Eastern Oregon broke onto the scoreboard on its first drive of the game. On his fourth pass of the game, Bartlow found AJ Prom for a 45 yard touchdown reception putting EOU on top 6-0. Bartlow was a perfect four-of-four on the drive.
 
The Mountaineers continued to attack and on its second position of the game EOU again marched down the field to a score. This time, Bartlow found Hernandez, for his first score of the game, on a 47 yard reception giving EOU a 13-0 lead, which would be the score after the first quarter.
 
Menlo started to slowly chip away at EOU's lead in the second quarter as Wade Hawkins rushed in for the Oaks first touchdown of the season to cut EOU's lead to six points, 13-7.
 
After Menlo's touchdown the Mountaineers looked to answer. EOU marched the ball down the field and got as close as Menlo's 19 yard line. However, the drive stalled and EOU had to settle for a field goal. Marc David put the ball through the uprights and EOU's lead grew to nine points, 16-7.
 
The Mountaineers looked to extend its lead over Menlo late in the second quarter. After forcing Menlo to punt EOU took position at their own 45 yard line. However, the drive ended after a fumble by Logan Deroin. Menlo held the ball for one play as Hawkins was intercepted by Byron Benson giving EOU the ball back. EOU again marched the ball down the field but the drive stalled and EOU went for a field goal attempt. However, David missed the kick giving Menlo the ball back.
 
After the missed field goal, Menlo marched the ball down the field in under three minutes. Hawkins found Daylan Power to score as time expired to cut EOU's lead down to two points, 16-14 at halftime.
 
The Mountaineers answered back to start the third quarter. Bartlow found Woody for a 26 yard reception to put EOU in Menlo territory. After a one yard run by Bartlow, he connected with Geoff Petties for a 38 yard touchdown pass putting EOU on top, 23-14.
 
Menlo wasted little time as they answered EOU's score on the next drive. Dylan Power scored on the Oaks sixth play of the drive trimming EOU's lead down to three points, 23-20.
 
Eastern Oregon looked to have an answer for the Oaks on the very next drive. EOU advanced the ball down to Menlo's 13 yard line before the drive stalled. However, EOU came up empty on the drive as David missed his second field goal of the day, this time from 30 yards out.

Menlo's offense continued to click as they took the ball 80 yards on 12 plays to take its first lead of the game. Hawkins found Jake Fohn for a 19 yard play putting Menlo down to EOU's nine yard line. Fohn scored on a nine yard rush the very next play and EOU trailed for the first time all year, 27-23.
 
The Mountaineers came to life in the fourth quarter. After taking the ball down to the one yard line, TJ Esekielu recorded his first rushing touchdown of the season to put EOU back on top 30-27.
 
Following the Mountaineers touchdown, EOU's defense came up big. Byron Benson recorded his second interception of the game to give EOU the ball back on Menlo's 22 yard line. However, the Mountaineers were flagged for an illegal celebration and pushed the ball back to Menlo's 27 yard line.
 
The offense continued to click for Bartlow and the Mountaineers. Bartlow found Hernandez for his second touchdown of the game, this time for 24 yards extending the Mountaineers lead to, 37-27.
 
After forcing Menlo to punt, EOU again marched the ball down the field. Working this drive mostly on the ground, EOU moved the ball down to Menlo's one yard line. Bartlow capped off the run with a one yard run to put EOU on top, 45-27.
 
Menlo tried to respond but backup quarterback, Nate Dodson, was picked off by Kristopher Welch giving EOU a 45-27 victory.
 
Eastern Oregon returns to action on Sept. 13th when open up their home schedule against Southern Oregon University at 1 p.m.