CHENEY, Wash. (AP) - Eric Barriere threw for a career-high 326 yards and three touchdowns, scored on a 48-yard run, and Eastern Washington began the renewal of its Big Sky rivalry with Idaho with a 38-14 Homecoming victory on Saturday.
Barriere, in his third-straight start for injured All-American Gage Gubrud, ran for the opening touchdown and had a 22-yard strike to Henderson Belk and a 7-yarder to Dre Dorton as the Eagles (6-2, 4-1) opened a 31-0 lead at the half.
After the Vandals (3-5, 2-4), who rejoined the conference after 22 years at the FBS level, scored on the first of two Mason Petrino touchdown passes, Barriere connected with Terence Grady for a 64-yard touchdown.
Barriere was 29 of 42 and had a game-high 70 yards rushing. Eleven different EWU players caught a pass, including Barriere, who picked up 13 yards. The Eagles, ranked fourth in the FCS coaches’ poll, had 546 total yards.
Idaho, which only had 129 of its 363 yards at halftime, won the previous conference matchup 37-10 in 1995 but the Eagles beat the Vandals the only two times after they left the league.
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