Big Sky Notebook: Grieving Eric Barriere continues prolific season with 600-yard performance | Montana State Bobcats
BOZEMAN – Eric Barriere has not only set more records and received more awards. He did it while dealing with the recent death of a family member.
East Washington star quarterback, Barriere, completed 26 of 35 passes (74.3%) for 600 yards and seven touchdowns in the Eagles’ 71-21 Big Sky win over rival Idaho on Saturday’s red turf from Roos Field in Cheney, Washington. Barriere also rushed to get a score to add even more noteworthy note to a historic achievement in a unique career.
Last Monday, Barriere learned that his aunt had died in a car accident, he said in an EMU video after receiving the match ball on Saturday.
“I’ve been through a lot this week,” Barriere told his teammates. “It was really tough for me and I dedicated this game to her.”
600 yards 8 TDs in total✅
Cue ball✅
We drive with you 3❤️ @ EB3__ #GoEags pic.twitter.com/pNebA0R4Mp
– No. 2 EMU football (@EWUFootball) October 16, 2021
It would have been hard to write a better dedication.
Barriere averaged 23.1 yards per completion (17.1 yards per attempt) and finished with a 284.3 pass rating against Idaho (2-4, 1-2 Big Sky). Its 600 yards set a school record. They’re also the fourth-most ever in a Big Sky game and the eighth-best FCS single-game brand. The seven TD passes set its own programming record.
“He’s a really good player, but I think he was a better player today if that’s possible,” said Idaho coach Paul Petrino of the spokesman’s report.
EMU also set records with 837 yards total offensive in the blowout and 29 points in the first quarter. Freddie Roberson caught nine barrier passes for 192 yards and two TDs, Andrew Boston had five catches for 175 yards and a score, and Dennis Merritt made three receptions for 102 yards and a TD.
The win continued a historic start for the Eagles, who are 7-0 (4-0 in conference) and ranked 2nd on the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
Barrier’s performance made him a breeze for his fifth Big Sky offensive player of the week (fourth solo and fourth in five weeks) as well as Stats Perform FCS ‘national offensive player of the week.
The gap between the barrier and the next best FCS quarterback grew. He leads the level in Passing Yards (3,067), Passing Yards Per Game (438.1), Yards Per Completion (15.8), Yards Per Attempt (11.0), Passing TDs (28) and Passer Rating (190.7) . He has also stormed for two TDs, thrown five interceptions, exceeded 400 yards four times and exceeded 500 yards three times in one game.
Barrier’s lowest pass in a game that fall was 264 in a 63-14 win over Central Washington. In the other six games, he has thrown at least 347 yards.
“Eric Barriere is once again proving himself to be the best player in the country at this level. Without exception, no discussion for me, ”said EMU trainer Aaron Best on Saturday about EMU. “He’s explosive, he’s selfless and he understands that the running game complements the passing game.”
Griz falls, cats move up in the top 25
EMU stayed in second place, but all other Big Sky teams rose or fell in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
Montana’s 28:21 home defeat to Sacramento State on Saturday resulted in a drop from 5th to 11th.
The Grizzlies’ rival Montana State moved up one place to 8th after its 13-7 win at 8th. 19 Weber State. For the first time this season, the Bobcats are the second highest Big Sky team in the ranking.
Montana state soccer coach Brent Vigen speaks to reporters about the Bobcats’ 13-7 win over Weber state on Friday October 15, 2021 in Ogden, Utah.
UC Davis rose from 13th to 10th after beating Northern Colorado 32-3.
Sac State swapped places with Weber State, climbing from unranked to 19th place. While unranked, WSU received the fourth most votes of any team outside of the top 25.
MSU is honored weekly
In addition to Barriere, a pair of Bobcats received Big Sky Player of the Week awards.
Montana State Defensive End Daniel Hardy and kicker Blake Glessner were named Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.
“In both cases, likely occasions before this week when they would have been awarded this honor,” said MSU coach Brent Vigen on Monday.
Hardy had eight tackles and three sacks in the MSU win at Weber State on Friday night. The senior also forced a fumble that MSU regained, and he received an Honorable Mention of National Defensive Player of the Week from Stats Perform FCS.
Montana State defensive end Daniel Hardy speaks to the media about the Bobcats 13-7 win over Weber State, his big performance and more on Friday, October 15, 2021 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah.
“Daniel has been very consistent in his efforts, and that’s where it starts for him,” said Vigen. “He’s always there with every game and he’d be the first to say it’s not just about him. So really selfless, but with his hard work in the offseason he positioned himself to become a real force. “
This fumble caused by Hardy led to the first of two field goals by Glessner. That kick from 46 yards put the Bobcats 10-7 up. The novice’s second field goal was 32 yards away.
“He was also very consistent, not only with his court kisses, but also with the kick off,” said Vigen. “His position on the ball in this game with its dangerous second leg was really important.”
Montana State kicker Blake Glessner speaks about his honor for Player of the Week, his field goals in defeating Weber State, his performance this season, teammate and teammate of the week Daniel Hardy and more on Monday, October 18, 2021 at the Bobcat Sports Complex in Bozeman.
NAU starts in the Grand Canyon Trophy game
Northern Arizona beat Southern Utah 59:35 on Saturday to win the Grand Canyon Trophy for the second straight year, and the Lumberjacks won’t be returning the trophy any time soon.
Earlier this year, Southern Utah announced it would be leaving the Big Sky after 10 years and joining the Western Athletic Conference in 2022. The move means that SUU’s annual rivalry game with NAU will be on a hiatus as they attend various conferences and have booked their non-conference schedules for several years.
The Grand Canyon series will resume in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2028. NAU and SUU agreed in June on a 12-year contract with six games each in Flagstaff and Cedar City, Utah, alternating.
NAU (3-3, 2-1 Big Sky) retained the Grand Canyon Trophy with a dominant home performance against the Thunderbirds (1-6, 0-4) on Saturday. The Lumberjacks built a 24-0 lead and responded with touchdowns as SUU cut their deficit to 10 points twice in the second half.
The Lumberjacks finished at 721 yards, the third most in program history. They also had two 150-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher for the first time in a single game. Kevin Daniels stormed for 229 yards and a touchdown at 19 carries (12.1 per carry), while Hendrix Johnson caught five passes for 174 yards and two TDs, and Coleman Owen had 163 yards and two scores on nine receptions.
NAU quarterback RJ Martinez went 23 of 29 (79.3%) for 417 yards, five TDs, and no picks.
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