.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
(STATS) - The goal for every Eastern Washington opponent is to keep the Eagles' high-powered offense off the field, not to let them run 100 offensive plays.
The No. 2-seeded team did just that Saturday as quarterback Gage Gubrud accounted for 517 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a 31-14 win over Central Arkansas in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Eastern Washington (11-1) will remain on the red turf of Roos Field in Cheney against either Richmond (9-3) or No. 7 seed North Dakota (9-2) in next weekend's quarterfinals. The Eagles shared the Big Sky Conference title with UND.
Gubrud, a redshirt sophomore, was electrifying as he had a hand in all but 14 of Eastern Washington's offensive yards. He completed a school-record 47 passes in 64 attempts for 449 yards and two touchdowns to his favorite receiver, Cooper Kupp, and carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards and a touchdown.
The Eagles had to come from behind in their first-ever meeting with Central Arkansas as the Bears (10-3) went ahead 14-0 with two second-quarter touchdowns. But Gubrud put his team ahead by halftime with three scores in the final five minutes of the first half.
He scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 14-play, 95-yard drive and make it 14-7. After Tysen Prunty recovered a UCA fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Gubrud connected with Kupp for a 19-yard touchdown. After the Bears went three-and-out, Gubrud capped an 11-play drive with a 6-yard TD to Kupp with 14 seconds left in the half.
Kendrick Bourne led the EWU receivers with 13 receptions for 126 yards.
With 10 receptions, Kupp raised his season total to 101, marking his third season in the century club. He has 412 receptions, 6,156 receiving yards and 68 touchdown receptions in his career - all-time records for both FCS and Division I.
UCA's 14 points were the fewest against Eastern Washington this season. The Eagles' six lowest totals are in their last six games.
