Gubrud’s 3 TD passes get EWU past Portland St.

PORTLAND — Gage Gubrud threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns and Eastern Washington overcame a slow start to defeat Portland State 35-28 on Friday night to clinch a tie for the Big Sky Conference title.

The Eagles (10-1, 8-0) shared the title with North Dakota but earn the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs because of a higher ranking.

Gubrud’s third touchdown pass, a 10-yard strike to Kendrick Bourne to cap an eight-play, 61-yard drive, gave the Eagles their only lead with 8:19 to play.

The Vikings (3-8, 2-6) led 14-0 and took two more leads after the Eagles tied it. Nate Tago ran for two touchdowns and Alex Kuresa threw for 252 yards and a score.

Tamarick Pierce ran for two touchdowns for Eastern Washington, his 6-yarder early in the fourth quarter tied the game at 28.

Eastern Washington’s three-time All-American Cooper Kupp had six receptions, which put him over 400 for his career, but left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury after hauling in a 38-yard pass.