Eastern Washington beats Portland State 41-34

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Kyle Padron’s game-winning 1-yard touchdown run with 1:25 remaining capped an eight-play, 94-yard drive, giving Eastern Washington a share of the Big Sky title in a 41-34 victory over Portland State.

It was Padron’s second rushing touchdown of the night. The multidimensional quarterback completed 26-of-38 passes for 381 yards and two more touchdowns, adding his total to four for Eastern Washington (9-2, 7-1 Big Sky).

Portland State (3-8, 2-6) took a 26-14 lead with 6:23 to go in the third quarter when D.J. Adams scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, his third of the night, but the Eagles answered with three straight scoring drives including Padron’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Nicholas Edwards. Edwards and four catches for 77 yards and two scores.

The Vikings took a 13-0 lead when Adams scored two touchdowns in the first quarter but were outscored 41-21 the rest of the way.

Eastern Washington earns the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs with the victory. The Eagles and Montana State were tied atop the conference at 7-1 after Montana State beat Montana 16-7 and with Cal Poly earning a road victory at Northern Arizona, 42-34, there is a three-way tie for the title. Eastern Washington earns the automatic bid thanks to its 27-24 win at Montana State on Oct. 13, the deciding factor in the tiebreakers.