LA GRANDE, OR - Eastern Oregon earned a gritty 16-10 victory over Whitworth on Saturday afternoon in front of a home crowd at Community Stadium, picking up their first win of the 2025 season in the home opener.

The Mountaineers struck first, driving thirty-four yards in nine plays capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Elia Kirisimasi. Ethan Cutler added a field goal to extend the early lead. Whitworth answered with a forty seven yard field goal to narrow the gap to 7-3, but Cutler responded again, this time with a thirty eight yard field goal and sending EOU into halftime with a 10-3 lead.

Despite Whitworth tying the game in the third quarter, the Mounties responded with a long drive that ended in another Cutler field goal to regain the lead. In the fourth, EOU's defense clamped down, keeping the Pirates out of the end zone and setting up one final field goal to make it 16-10. 

A critical moment came with nearly two minutes remaining, when Michael Lenke recovered a fumbled kickoff by Whitworth, allowing EOU to run out the clock and seal the win.The Mounties' ability to manufacture points consistently and keeping Whitworth out of rhythm made the difference.

Kirisimasi shouldered much of the offensive load, totaling 109 passing yards and rushing for 65 more, including the team's lone touchdown.  Cutler was perfect in the kicking game, converting all three field goal attempts and his extra point. He also tallied 177 punting yards and 308 kickoff yards, playing a key role in controlling field position throughout the game. 

With the win, Eastern Oregon improves to 1-1 on the season. The Mountaineers return to action on Saturday, September 20th at 1 p.m. PT at Community Stadium, when they host Valley City State University for the first of two Frontier Conference East-West Division crossover matchups.