LA GRANDE, Ore. – No. 20 Eastern Oregon University Football suffered its first loss of the spring season as the Mountaineers dropped a hard fought 49-38 contest at home to the No. 6 College of Idaho Coyotes. With the loss EOU falls to 2-1 overall and 2-1 in Frontier Conference play.
 
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers managed to outgain the Yotes (3-0, 3-0 Frontier) in total yards, 398-350, but back-to-back fumbles lost by EOU led directly to touchdowns for C of I to secure the road win.
• EOU got the ball to start the game but was held scoreless in the first quarter, while the Yotes scored just once to make it 7-0 after the first minutes of play. Following a three-and-out by EOU on the opening drive, C of I went 63 yards down the field in 13 plays for the score to go ahead early in the contest.
• The second quarter was the highest scoring of any on the day as the two squads combined 42 points to make it a 28-21 game at halftime. The Mountaineers had the edge at 28-14 in the frame scoring wise to lead by one score at the break.
• The first touchdown for EOU came with 13:01 to play in the second when John Lesser caught a 10 yard pass from Kai Quinn to cap a nine-play, 80 yard drive. The connection from Quinn to Lesser tied the contest at 7-all. C of I responded on the next drive with a 49-tyard score on a pass that happened on a third and long to put them back in front 14-7.
• Eastern tied the game back up at 14-all on the next possession as the team needed just seven plays to clear 68 yards for the score. Lesser scored his second touchdown of the contest on a six yard carry up the middle to even the score back up.
• On the ensuing kickoff, C of I fumbled the ball and Eastern recovered it at the Yotes' 29 yard line to set up the next score. The Mountaineers needed just two plays as a trick play by EOU made it a 14-all tie. Quinn handed the ball off to Saige Wilkerson who immediately stepped up for a 27 yard pass back to Quin who walked into the endzone untouched for the touchdown.
• Leading 21-14, Eastern looked to hold the advantage but the Yotes wasted little time tying the game back up once again. On the first play of the drive, C of I threw a 50 yard touchdown pass after the kickoff was returned to midfield. With the one play score, the Yotes had the game knotted at 21-all.
• The high scoring second quarter ended in the Mountaineers favor as they found the endzone one last time before the halftime break. C of I forced a three-and-out after tying the game up, but an interception by quarterback Ryan Hibbs on the next possession set EOU's offense up in Yotes territory.
• Pulling down the interception for the Mountaineers was Zak Donato as he allowed the EOU offense to take over at the C of I 21. A pass interference call against the Yotes helped EOU get down to the two-yard line, before Jordan Eggers punched it in for the touchdown to make it a 28-21 game before halftime.
• After a high scoring second quarter, the third quarter produced just 10 total points as the Yotes managed a touchdown and held EOU to a field goal. C of I got the ball to start the third and scored on a 51 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 28-all with 13:03 on the clock.
• EOU's lone score of the third came midway through the quarter. Zachary Cahill nailed a 37-yard field goal for the Mountaineers to give them the lead back at 31-28. Defense held up the rest of the frame for both teams as the score remained 31-28 in favor of Eastern going into the fourth.
• Lady Luck fell in the Yotes hands in the fourth as they outscored the Mountaineers 21-7 to hold on for the 11-point road win. EOU's lone score of the fourth came in the first five second as a drive that started late in the third was capped by a Tanner Zenke five-yard touchdown reception to put EOU up 10, 38-28.
• The Yotes first of three touchdowns came with 10:23 to play in the fourth as a yard touchdown pass ended a nine-play, 55-yard drive to get the Yotes within three, 38-35. The final two scores for C of I came on back-to-back fumble recoveries within two minutes of each other.
• The first fumble for the Yotes came at the 7:01 mark as the ball was pulled away from Quinn on a fourth-and-one rush. The Yotes got the recovery and went 42 yards for the score. On the ensuing possession for EOU was in a second-and-two situation and as Quinn looked to tuck the ball and run C of I knocked it loose and went 17 yards for the score to bring the game to its final of 49-38.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Kai Quinn totaled 296 yards of total offense in the loss. He scored three total touchdowns. He caught one, and threw for two. He was 21-34 through the air for 206 yards. He rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries.
• John Lesser scored one touchdown and rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries. Lesser also caught six passes for 43 yards and had a touchdown reception.
• Jordan Eggers also rushed for a touchdown and had 23 yards on the ground.
• Tyler Brown pulled in four catches for a team best 45 yards.
• Tanner Zenke had five receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown.
• Zak Donato led the defense with 12 total tackles, with seven coming on a solo effort. He also had one interception.
• Solo Taylor and Joey Gutierrez both totaled five tackles in the contest.
 
For the Yotes
• Ryan Hibbs was 15-22 passing and had four touchdowns in the win. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked once.
• Nick Calzaretta rushed for 58 yards to lead the ground game on 19 carries.
• Isaiah Veal pulled in five catches for a game-high 124 yards and had a pair of touchdown grabs.
• Jacob Batubenga had nine tackles in the win and recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
• Taeson Hardin also finished with nine tackles in the win, with six coming on a solo effort.

By the Numbers
398 – Eastern Oregon totaled 298 yards of offense in the game, and outgained C of I 398-350.
38 – The Mountaineers 38 points is the most in a game this season and they have scored 30-plus in each of the last two games.
2 – EOU has had two turnovers in every game this season.
3 – In both games at home this spring, EOU has forced three turnovers in both contests.
200 – Kai Quinn has thrown for over 200 yards in every game this season.
4 – Eastern Oregon's defense pulled down two interceptions in both games at home this season.
 
Up Next
• EOU will close out regular season play next weekend on the road as the team will head back to Montana. The Mountaineers take on the Montana State-Northern Light son Saturday, April 10. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. PT/12 p.m. MT in Havre.

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