LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers closed out their home schedule in dominant fashion, blanking Simpson University (Calif.) 34-0 on Saturday afternoon in front of a packed Senior Day crowd. The all-around team performance lifted the Mounties to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in Frontier Conference play.
Before kickoff, Eastern Oregon honored its 13 seniors: Defensive backs
Aiden Patterson,
Jason Grant and
Sosaia Raass, running backs
Brody Macmillan and
Reece Dixon, wide receiver
Jakoby Moss, tight ends
Payton Talbot and
Quin McLaren, offensive lineman
Zach Gardner, defensive linemen
Tyler Exline,
Sam Cadenas, and Teagan DeForest, and quarterback
Elia Kirisimasi.
Eastern wasted no time getting on the board, with quarterback
Elia Kirisimasi finding receiver
Brody Macmillan for a 71-yard touchdown on the game's opening possession, followed by a successful extra point by
Ethan Cutler. Eastern's defense quickly took control, forcing fumbles on the next two Simpson drives—recovered by
Jason Grant and
Cole Martin, respectively. After a missed 29-yard field goal attempt, the Mounties regrouped and extended their lead with a methodical drive capped by a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Kirisimasi. Cutler's extra point made it 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Following a scoreless second quarter, Eastern Oregon broke the game open in the third. Kirisimasi found
Tyler Creswick for a 43-yard touchdown, then connected with him again later for a 96-yard score that pushed the lead to 27-0. The Mountaineers capped the shutout in the fourth when
Payton Howe and Nehamiah Medrano combined for a defensive touchdown off an interception-turned-fumble recovery, sealing the 34-0 victory.
Eastern's defense was impenetrable, keeping Simpson out of the red zone for the entire contest.
Jason Grant and
Aiden Patterson each had key interceptions, returning them 45 and 32 yards, respectively. Connor Long and
Sam Cadenas each recorded a sack, while Grant led the way with 10 tackles. Patterson and Long followed with seven apiece. The Mountaineers' balance of explosive offense and stifling defense proved too much for the Red Hawks, as Eastern controlled every phase of the game.
Eastern Oregon will wrap up the 2025 season next week on the road against No. 9 Carroll College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT at Nelson Stadium in Helena, Montana.
