Box Score
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Portland, OR - Quarterback Kyle Padron capped a 94-yard Eastern Washington drive with a one-yard run with 1:25 to play, lifting the Eagles to a 41-34 win over Portland State at JELD-WEN Field. The win gives Eastern Washington a share of the Big Sky Conference football championship.

Padron was the difference in the game, throwing for 381 yards and two touchdowns, and running for two scores, after coming in relief of starter Vernon Adams in the second quarter. He was 5-5 passing for 73 yards on the winning drive.

Portland State was up to the challenge of the nation's fifth-ranked team all day, taking leads of 13-0 and 26-14, but both times the Eagles fought back. Eastern ends its regular season at 9-2, 7-1 in the Big Sky and will see where it is seeded when the NCAA picks the FCS post-season bracket on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Vikings end their season at 3-8 overall, 2-6 in the Big Sky.

Portland State took advantage of early Eagle errors, scoring two first-quarter touchdowns.

First, linebacker Zach Walen recovered an Eastern fumble at the Eagle 46. Quarterback Kieran McDonagh then led the Vikings on a 46-yard drive. Running back DJ Adams scored from four yards out for a 7-0 lead.

On the Eagles next possession, a fourth-down snap went over the punter's head, once again allowing PSU to take over in great field position. Starting at the Eastern 36, the Vikings ran seven plays, leading to another Adams TD. A failed two-point conversion made it 13-0 Vikings.

The Vikings recovered another Eagles' fumble late in the first quarter but missed a resulting 44-yard field goal attempt.

The second quarter was all Eastern Washington. Kyle Padron came on in relief of Vernon Adams and led the Eagles to two touchdowns. Padron had a four-yard scoring run and Demitrius Bronson added a four-yard touchdown just before halftime.

PSU's offense was shut down in the second quarter, managing just 46 yards. The Eagles led 14-13 going into the locker room.

The Vikings came out strong again, scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter to go back on top, 26-14. McDonagh threw a six-yard fade to Justin Monahan for a score on the Vikings first possession of the half. That put PSU back on top 19-14. Three minutes later, Adams completed another PSU drive with a TD run - again from four yards out.

But the Eagles ran off three straight scores to go back on top, 34-26. Padron threw a pair of touchdown passes to Nick Edwards of 36 and 18 yards during that rally.

McDonagh tied the game back up, leading PSU on a 78-yard drive in the middle of the fourth period. His two-yard scoring burst, then a two-point conversion pass to Monahan, tied the game at 34-34 with 4:50 left.

That set up the final scoring drive by Eastern Washington. Padron completed a key 32-yard strike to Greg Herd, then got a pass interference penalty on the Vikings on the very next play. Five plays later, Padron scored on a one-yard run.

Portland State's last minute drive was stymied by a late interception and the Eagles celebrated a share of the Big Sky Conference title. Montana State, also winners on a Saturday, finished at 7-1 as well. Cal Poly and Northern Arizona, both 6-1, were also battling for the top spot in a late game.

The Eagles passed for 463 yards in the game, but had net 0 rushing yards on 28 carries. Kaufman caught nine passes for 161 yards to lead the Eagles.

The Vikings were solid on offense with 199 yards on the ground and 225 passing. Adams rushed 21 times for 56 yards and three touchdowns. Shaquille Richard led the ground game with 13 carries for 75 yards. McDonagh had 70 yards rushing and 186 passing.

Walen led the defense with seven tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.

GAME NOTES: Adams finished just short of 1,000 rushing yards for the season, with 967 overall. He had a team-high 12 touchdowns on the season… Monahan finished with six receiving touchdowns for the Vikings… Ian Sluss made a team-high 104 tackles on the year… Portland State has lost 16 straight game to nationally-ranked teams, dating to the 2008 season.