CHENEY - Eastern Washington tries to dethrone the reigning NCAA Football Championship Subdivision champions tonight when the Eagles host the Villanova Wildcats at Roos Field (5 p.m., ESPN2, ESPN 700).

Because the Eagles are seeded fifth, Eastern received another home game in the semifinals against unseeded Villanova, a 42-24 winner last Saturday at No. 1 seeded Appalachian State. The Eagles, ranked No. 1 to end the regular season in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision poll, are 11-2 and riding a nine-game winning streak. Villanova, ranked 10th to end the regular season, is 9-4 and knocked off Montana in last year's FCS title game.

The other semifinal pits Georgia Southern (10-4) at third-seeded Delaware (11-2) on Saturday. Semifinal winners meet in the championship game Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.

EWU is 7-0 at home in its first season on its red-carpeted playing surface.

Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney has passed for 2,146 yards and 22 touchdowns, with five interceptions. He has also rushed for 584 yards and 11 TDs. Norman White has 66 receptions for 842 yards and 11 TDs. The Wildcats have already won twice on the road in the playoffs.

Eastern will be without All-America running back Taiwan Jones, who suffered a broken bone in his foot in last week's overtime victory over North Dakota State.