Nate Bell's performance against UC Davis put him in elite Eastern Washington company

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Oct. 6—Nate Bell's performance as Eastern Washington's quarterback on Saturday was overshadowed by the game's result, a 49-38 loss to UC Davis that kept the Eagles at the bottom of the Big Sky Conference football standings.

Next up for the Eagles (1-5, 0-3 Big Sky) is a matchup with the Northern Colorado Bears (2-4, 1-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Roos Field in Cheney.

The redshirt junior's accomplishments landed him among impressive company in the program's all-time record book and also elevated him near the top of this season's FCS passing leaders.

Against the Aggies, Bell set new career-highs in completions (39), attempts (58) and passing yards (413). By also rushing for 107 yards — 68 shy of his career high — Bell became just the second Eastern Washington quarterback to throw for 400 yards and rush for 100 in a game.

The only other to do so was Vernon Adams Jr., who threw for 411 and ran for 107 in Eastern Washington's 49-46 victory over No. 25 Oregon State on Aug. 31, 2013.

"It felt like the same Nate," EWU redshirt sophomore receiver Drew Carlson said of Bell's performance. "He does incredible things. It was like the world was at his fingertips."

Carlson was one of 10 Eagles players to catch a pass on Saturday; one of Carlson's six receptions went for the first touchdown of his career. Five of Bell's completions went to freshman Jaxon Bell, his brother, including one for a 34-yard touchdown.

Bell's 520 yards of offense ranks ninth all time among Eastern Washington's single-game performances. Eric Barriere holds that record of 577, set in a 71-21 victory over Idaho in 2021. Barriere also holds the second spot on that list (562 at Western Illinois in 2021), as well as the fourth (556, Lindenwood, 2019) and sixth (546, Southern Utah, 2021) spots. Barriere won the Walter Payton Award at the end of the 2021 season.

The other four spots are occupied by Gage Gubrud, whose career-high 560 yards of offense came against Montana in 2017. In 2016, Gubrud had seven 500-yard performances, including a 551-yard day in a victory over Washington State.

The only other Eagles' player to amass more than 500 yards from scrimmage in a game is Jordan West, who did so against Sacramento State in 2015 when he threw for 491 yards and ran for 12.

Bell's previous career-high was 416 yards from scrimmage (272 passing, 144 rushing) against Western Illinois last season. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more in that game.

"That was a unique performance that Nate put on (Saturday)," EWU wide receivers coach Casey Brink said. "He's the ultimate leader, and guys believe in him."

Bell also climbed to the top of the Big Sky in passing yards this season with 1,597, two yards ahead of Montana senior Keali'i Ah Yat.

Nationally, Bell ranks fifth in passing yards and third in yards from scrimmage (1,916). He has also rushed for seven touchdowns, which is tied for 15th nationally. He is sixth in points responsible for (108), a category that includes passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns.

He will look to continue that Saturday against a Bears defense that has allowed 224.5 passing yards per game, fourth-fewest in the Big Sky.

The Bears' own quarterback situation has been unsettled this season. Kenny Lueth, a fifth-year player, started the first four games but left the fourth injured and was replaced by senior Brayten Silbor. The following week, Silbor started and completed 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards in a 37-13 victory over Utah Tech.

Last week in a 36-14 loss to Montana, Silbor started again and completed 18 of 30 passes for 194 yards. But Lueth returned to action in the second half and completed 1 of 5 passes while also rushing six times for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Silbor is listed as the starter this week against the Eagles, with Lueth listed as the backup.

Northern Colorado ranks 11th in the Big Sky in passing yards per game (223), while Eastern is fifth (270).

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