From news services

The third time was the charm.

Eastern Washington University quarterback Eric Barriere has earned the prestigious Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Barriere was on-hand to receive the honor in person Friday at the Stats Perform National Awards banquet in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the FCS National Championship. His mother, sister, aunts, head coach Aaron Best and various EWU staff members were also in attendance. The ceremony was prerecorded, and will air Saturday regionally on the Bally Sports Network.

Known as the Heisman of the FCS, Eastern Washington now has the most Payton trophies in the 35-year history of the award with four, passing Villanova who has three. Barriere joins elite company, as former EWU wide receiver and current Los Angeles Ram Cooper Kupp was the last Eagle to win in 2015. Other former Eagle winners include quarterback Erik Meyer (2005) and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (2011).

After finishing fifth in 2019, Barriere was runner-up for last year's award, finishing six votes shy of quarterback Cole Kelley from Southeastern Louisiana. This year, Kelley finished second and Quay Holmes, a running back out of East Tennessee State, finished third.

Other past recipients of the Payton award include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Barriere was among 25 finalists for the award, named for the legendary running back and celebrating its 35th anniversary season. The winner was selected by a 50-member national media panel after the regular season.

Barriere will be honored during today's national championship game between Montana State and North Dakota State.

Barriere wrapped up his illustrious career with Eastern Washington in the second round of the FCS playoffs, helping the Eagles finish 10-3 overall with a 6-2 mark in Big Sky Conference play. He ended his tenure at EWU third all-time in the FCS in total offense (15,394), third in passing yards (13,809) and tied for fourth in passing touchdowns (121), all of which are also Eastern Washington and Big Sky Conference career records.

In his career he completed 62.0 percent of his passes (1007-of-1623), good for 13,809 yards, 121 touchdowns and 29 interceptions, and rushed 376 times for 1,585 yards and 22 more TDs (a school-record total of 143 touchdowns accounted for). His touchdown passes, passing yardage and 15,394 yards of offense are all school and Big Sky records.