Bearcats bow to the Eagles, 54-29

CHENEY, Wash.  — Vernon Adams threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score as Eastern Washington defeated Montana State 54-29 on Saturday to take a major step toward the Big Sky Conference championship.

The Eagles (8-2, 6-0) notched the program’s 500th victory in defeating the Bobcats (7-3, 5-1). It was the first Big Sky matchup of FCS top-five teams since 1994.

EWU scored on all eight of its possessions, not counting when the Eagles were taking a knee at the end.

Adams now has 38 touchdown passes to break the school record and ranks second in Big Sky history. He was an efficient 16 of 18, including a scoring throws of 76, 68 and 17 yards to Shaquille Hill. Hill finished with a career-high 172 receiving yards.

“Vernon was special and the receivers were special,” EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said. “I didn’t realize (Vernon) had just two incompletions -- that is impressive. That is just the type of player he is. He keeps getting better, and he keeps working at it.”

Quincy Forte’s 25-yard scoring run with 1:28 left in the first half gave EWU the lead for good at 26-21. Forte rushed for a career-high 123 yards and two scores.

“The offensive line did a great job, and we added a running game that I think surprised Montana State,” Baldwin said.

MSU closed to 40-29 early in the fourth quarter on DeNarius McGhee’s 2-yard run. Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, Adams responded with his 76-yard TD bomb to Hill, who caught the ball in stride and scored easily. That gave the Eagles a 47-29 lead with 11:57 remaining.

The Bobcats came up empty on their next drive, giving up the ball on downs. Anthony Vitto entered at quarterback for EWU, with Adams on the sideline with cramps. Vitto led a 71-yard drive that was capped with his 36-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp to end the scoring. That gave Kupp, a redshirt freshman, a touchdown catch in all 10 EWU games this season. He finished with 110 yards.

McGhee, who has over 10,000 yards passing in his career, had his best day of the season throwing. He hit 31 of 37 attempts for 330 yards with an interception. His one touchdown pass went to Tanner Bleskin, who had 116 yards receiving. Cody Kirk ran for 100 yards and two scores.

“We knew we had to score points,” McGhee said. “It’s not on our defense, it’s on our team.”