<p>CHENEY, Wash. — Dennis Merritt ran for three touchdowns and Eric Barriere threw for 309 yards and a pair of scores and No. 9 Eastern Washington rallied to beat Idaho 38-31 on Saturday.</p>
<p>The win avenged the Eagles’ season-opening 28-21 loss against the Vandals in Moscow, Idaho. Eastern Washington (5-1, 5-1 Big Sky Conference) has reeled off five straight wins since its Feb. 27 opener and hasn’t scored fewer than 32 points during the streak.</p>
<p>Despite the win, Eastern Washington will have to wait until April 18 to see whether they’ve done enough to secure one of six at-large bids to the FCS playoffs. Weber State clinched the Big Sky title edging out Idaho State earlier in the day.</p>
<p>Trailing 31-24 entering the fourth quarter, <a href="https://twitter.com/EWUFootball/status/1381013537061937152?s=20">Merritt ran wide right for a 21-yard touchdown</a> to even the score with 12:41 remaining. The go-ahead score — and eventual winner — came on his <a href="https://twitter.com/EWUFootball/status/1381017402607947776?s=20">14-yard weave and dash</a> up the middle with 6:50 left.</p>
<p>Vandals redshirt sophomore running back Zach Borisch got the starting nod at quarterback due to injuries. A former all-state quarterback in high school, Borisch threw for 74 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions — both of which came on the Vandals’ final two possessions.</p>
<p>But Borisch’s ground-game effort resulted in 205 yards rushing on 33 carries with a pair of touchdowns resulting in Idaho holding the ball for 36:23 in its upset bid.</p>
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