Story Courtesy of Eastern Athletics
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While it was not the most stylish of wins, Eastern University Football stuck with its formula to claim a 16-10 victory and an outright MAC Championship in the program's third season. Brett Nabb ran for 104 yards and threw for 137 yards and a pair of scores as the Eagles used ball control-offense and stingy defense to win a seventh straight game.
The Eagles clinched at least a share of the title with a win over FDU-Florham last week, but with Misericordia and Delaware Valley each sitting just behind the Eagles with two losses, the Eagles needed to earn road win over tough Stevenson team on that squad's senior day.
After trailing 7-3 at halftime, the Eagles grabbed a 9-7 lead on a little razzle-dazzle play where Nab took a pitch and found Izayah Guy-Bruton for a 14-yard score midway though the third quarter.
Up only 9-7 the Eagles needed their defense to hold strong. The Mustangs gained only seven yards on their next possession and Eric Wilson ended a second Stevenson possession with his first interception of the season. The Mustang's first full possession of the fourth quarter went 38 yards but ended in with a missed field goal from 49 yards.
Needing a score, the Eagles looked to Jeremiah Avrilien and a possession passing game to move the ball, Eastern's junior running back had. Pair of solid runs on either side of catches from Nassik Smith and Justin Nikolopoulos. Avrilien finished the game with 59 yards rushing.
Nabb capped a the drive with a well-delivered fade route to Nikolopoulos for a score on third-and-12 from the 18 yard line. John Noel's extra-point made it a two-possession game.
The Mustangs (6-4, 5-4) earned yards on the next possession, but when their drive stalled at the 13-yard line, they settled for a field goal and an onside-kick attempt. Chris Rivera, usually a deep guy for the Eagles, came forward and made a tough grab on a high-bouncing onside kick. Rivera had three catches for 43 yards in the game.
Nabb ran for four yards on first down and then iced the game with a nine-yard run on second down. Nabb finishes the regular season with 1199 yards running and 1237 yards passing. This is Eastern's first game this year without a rushing touchdown.
The defenses ran the game for the first half.
Through two quarters, theMustangs earned just 84 total yards. The hosts took advantage of a short field after an early blocked punt. They completed the 22-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal. The touchdown was the first passing score the Eagles have given up since their win at King's
Stevenson's only other yardage came on a 45-yard flea-flicker. While Mustangs struggled to move the ball, the Eagles did not have too much more success. Eastern had just 104 total yards.
Wayne Clark had a pair of sacks, and the Eagles finally got a short field when Jason Bateman made a diving interception with six minutes left in the quarter. On the next play, Brett Nabb appeared to score on a scramble around the edge, but holding penalty put the Eagles behind the sticks, and they settled for a John Nolek 41-yard field goal with 4:35 on the clock. The Eagles got the ball back at the midfield after another strong defensive set, but that drive ended on downs at the Stevenson 31.
The Eagles will learn their NCAA match-up on Sunday evening. Coming into today's game, Eastern sat 23rd in the NPI. Forty teams make the NCAA Tournament and sixteen of those play the first weekend. Based on the NPI, if Eastern winds up playing on the 22nd, it is likely that they will play at home.
Details will be posted on GoEasternEagles.com as soon as they become available.