THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Eastern's Best on his running/passing quarterbacks, the 'rivalry' with Idaho, and other stuff

Normally, a 5-7 season wouldn't be reason for encouragement. 

Especially for a program like Eastern Washington, which was been one of the top FCS programs throughout the 2010s. And before Montana State last year, the Eagles were the last Big Sky Conference football team to win a national championship, in the 2010 season. 

But EWU has struggled in recent years — 3-8 in 2022, then 4-7, then 4-8, then 5-7 in 2025. 

Last year, the Eagles beat Idaho and had a golden opportunity to upset Montana in Missoula. 

"We're fighting, we're clawing, we're scratching," said Aaron Best, entering his 10th season as head coach at his alma mater. "We're right there. But right there just means you're right there — you're not there yet."

A 1-4 start last year put Eastern in a big hole. There was a 10-point loss in the opener at Incarnate Word, which was ranked in the top five of the FCS at the time. 

Boise State blew out the Eags six days later, 51-14. EWU then lost 17-14 at Northern Iowa, won its home opener 52-31 over Western Illinois (which was quarterbacked by Lake City High alum Chris Irvin), then got crushed 57-3 at eventual champion Montana State. 

"We weren't a very sexy team early in the year," Best said at Big Sky football media day last month in Airway Heights. "I realize that, our kids realize that, and we felt sorry for ourselves for whatever reason. And then we quit feeling sorry for ourselves and played a little ball, and won some ugly games at home and on the road, and played some good ball. A couple self-induced things that possibly cost us in situations, man, you wish you had 'em back. ... So, we're a couple plays away from being a different record than we were, but ... let's not have those moments of a couple plays, or a couple series, let's do away with that and give ourselves the best chance to be victorious." 

At 4-5, EWU returned to the state of Montana six weeks later. The Griz jumped out to a 22-0 lead after the first quarter. The Eags cut it to 29-24 and were driving late. On the Griz 5-yard line, with the clock running and in a rush to spike the ball after a short completion, EWU fumbled and the clock ran out. 

"It would have been nice to see what would have happened at the 5-yard line, but we're not going to know," Best said. "But to have that conversation, being down 24-0 and getting it to 29-24 with the ball at the 5-yard line, yeah, we gotta punch it in. At the end of the day, we have to find a way to punch it in." 

RUNNING QUARTERBACKS VS. PASSING QBS 

During its winning run, Eastern had success with passing quarterbacks, and later with QBs who were a running threat, but also could throw it. 

In recent years, the Eags have used more run-first quarterbacks. But running QBs are often like dogs who chase cars ... 

Last year's starter (Jared Taylor) and backup (Nate Bell) were both run-first guys. Not coincidentally, both were limited by injuries, and Taylor ultimately "retired." 

"We need to settle that position, understanding and believing who we are," Best said. "Let's not play the whole, 'this package, that package.' A couple years ago, we were playing three or four in a game ... at some point, identify who we are, put in who we identify who we are or gives us the best chance. "But let's not just do it to do it. Because I think that's what we've lacked the last couple of years is consistency, especially last year. We want to keep that kid upright, no matter who it is. Because when you get to your fourth quarterback, not too many people have four quarterbacks, and we found that out the hard way. So we have to protect the quarterback more, in the pass game, and we have to be situational about our QB run game, knowing we don't need the quarterback to carry the ball 15-18 times. Let's let them be quarterbacks." 

When preseason practice started in late July, Bell (663 rushing yards, seven TDs, 1,003 passing yards, seven TDs in 2025), a redshirt junior, was the No. 1 QB. 

And Jake Schakel, a redshirt sophomore who passed for 451 yards and two TDs in his first start last year at Montana, and saw action in five games last year before getting injured, was also expected to get some reps with the 1s. 

"They're two totally different quarterbacks," Best said. "Now with the (new) system in, there will be 'leans' to one or the other, but the core of what we do, both can do." 

Best said over the years Eastern has had quarterbacks that could "scoot," but the Eags didn't lean into the QB run game — instead, they would occasionally escape the pocket under pressure and make plays that way. 

"That's what we need to get back to," Best said. "Let's protect the quarterback, let's hand the ball to the running back, and occasionally let's sprinkle the quarterback in. I think that's where we need to get to." 

SHEA ROBERTSON 

The 6-1, 222-pound redshirt sophomore linebacker from Coeur d'Alene is looking to make a jump after seeing limited action in eight games over his first two years in Cheney. 

"Great special teams player," Best said. "He's getting in the mix at linebacker, now that we've had a couple guys graduate. Brought a couple guys in that are older to see what that looks like with the progression of some of the other guys like Shea. 

"Right now, he's probably going to find himself on two or three special teams," Best added. "And then you earn the opportunity to play between the tackles at 'backer; it's not the other way around ... he's trending in the right direction. Hard worker, great kid." 

BEATING IDAHO 

Eastern defeated Idaho 21-14 on Oct. 18 in Cheney.  

Idaho had won three straight over the Eagles before losing last year at Roos Field. When Idaho returned to the Big Sky in 2018, EWU won three of the first five meetings, capped by a 71-21 shellacking on the red turf in 2021. 

"I got asked when they came back in the league, is this a rivalry?" Best said. "We hadn't played them in 10, 12 years. They're 69 miles or whatever away in proximity. And now it's trending that way, where we've had some back-and-forth games, and now they've been in the conference 'X' amount of years. And now it's kinda building to where there's more emotion in the game ... each win is special, but especially against Idaho ... it's not bigger, it's just maybe a little bit sweeter." 

By the time Best arrived on campus at EWU, Idaho had moved up to FBS, though the Vandals still played the Eags from 1996-99, and in 2003 and '12. 

Best said he's "heard some stories way back when" about no love lost in the rivalry. These days, it doesn't appear quite that way, but it is trending back toward being a "rivalry." 

Best downplayed it last month, but he appeared to be more than just the usual happy winning coach after last year's game, closing his presser by pounding the table with his fist for emphasis. 

"We recruit against each other," Best said. "There's so many behind-the-scenes things that makes some of these things sweeter that the world doesn't know about; the world doesn't need to know about. But the proximity matters and the recruiting matters, and you're on your home field; let's protect our home field." 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.