One day before his 24th birthday, Gunner Talkington gave Eastern Washington football something to chat about.
The redshirt senior from Battle Ground threw five touchdown passes in a 36-29 season-opening win over Tennessee State on Saturday in Cheney.
Making just his second career start, Talkington completed 29 of 48 passes for 348 yards and no interceptions. He hit Efton Chism for a 13-yard touchdown with 2:39 left to break a 29-29 tie.
Talkington also threw touchdowns of 7, 22, 14 and 1 yards. He also led the Eagles with 60 rushing yards.
“You guys saw who you guys saw: Gunner Talkington,” EWU senior receiver Freddie Roberson told the Spokesman-Review. “That’s just what he does. And that’s something we anticipated going into this season.”
Talkington entered Saturday’s game with five career touchdown passes while playing in a backup role the past four seasons.
“I’m just super proud of him,” said defensive end Mitchell Johnson, one of Talkington’s roommates, told the Spokesman-Review. “He’s a guy who’s been patient the last six years … He never doubted himself. He never took the doubt from other people as criticism; he took it as motivation.”
Ridgefield graduate Brock Harrison also had a standout game for Eastern Washington. The sophomore defensive end had five tackles, including a strip sack that forced a turnover.
Here’s how other collegiate football players from Clark County fared. Note: A blank entry means the player’s team had a bye week.
Army
Bailey Meek, Ridgefield, Fr., DL — Did not play in a 38-28 loss to Coastal Carolina.
Butte College
Michael Bolds, Mountain View, So., DB — Did not play in a 39-33 loss to College of Sequoias.
Rodolfo Montiel, Mountain View, Fr., TE — Did not play.
Central Washington
Isaiah Carbajal, Mountain View, Sr.*, DL — Started at defensive tackle in a 36-20 loss to Ferris State. Had five tackles, including three solo, one forced fumble and one hit on the quarterback.
Josiah Cochran, Skyview, So.*, DL — Did not play.
Dylan Dean, Columbia River, Fr.*, OL —Did not play.
Tyler Flanagan, Woodland, So.*, RB — Had five carries for 10 yards and one catch for 12 yards.
Kai Gamble, Union, Sr.*, DL — Had three tackles, including two solo and one hit on the quarterback.
Jude Mullette, Mountain View, Fr.*, K — Was 2 for 2 on field goals, hitting from 45 and 33 yards.
Jarius Phillips, Camas, Fr., LB —Did not play.
Titan Phillips, Camas, So.*, TE — Did not play.
Ty Snider, Ridgefield, Fr., WR — Did not play.
College of the Siskiyous
Dylan Kier, Columbia River, Fr. LB — Did not play in a 41-24 loss to Chabot College.
Colorado School of Mines
Kenny Wright, Camas, So.*, TE — Played in a 25-22 loss to Grand Valley State.
Eastern Oregon
Cole Schultz, Ridgefield, Fr.*, DL — Did not play in a 48-14 loss to Montana Western.
Dominic Stephens, Mountain View, Fr.*, DL — Did not play.
Owen Wann, Battle Ground, Fr, LB — Had one solo tackle.
Eastern Washington
Korey Bozovich, Union, Fr., WR —Did not play in a 36-29 win over Tennessee State.
Brock Harrison, Ridgefield, So.*, DL — Started at defensive tackle. Had five tackles, including two solo, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass broken up.
Dylan Ingram, Camas, Sr.*, TE — Started at tight end. Did not record a catch.
Aiden Nellor, Union, Jr.*, TE — Played in a backup role.
Jackson Plieth, Union, Fr., LS — Did not play.
Gunner Talkington, Battle Ground, Sr.*, QB — Started at quarterback. Completed 29 of 46 passes for 348 yards, five touchdowns (7, 22, 14, 1, 13 yards) and no interceptions. Also rushed nine times for 60 yards.
Ahmani Williams, Skyview, So., LB — Played in a backup role.
George Fox
Therman Bibens, Union, So., LB — Had five tackles, including three solo in a 38-31 win over Redlands University.
Connor Delamarter, Ridgefield, Fr., LB — Had one solo tackle.
Josue Espinoza, Camas, Jr., OL — Did not play.
Andrew Gray, Heritage, So., LB —Did not play.
Jaden Hornsby, Union, So., LB —Did not play.
Kaleb La Mere, Heritage, So., WR —Did not play.
Isaiah Rupp, Skyview, So., S —Did not play.
Michael Stromberg, Skyview, So., S —Did not play.
Idaho
CJ Jordan, Union, So., QB — Had one carry for minus-2 yards in a 24-17 loss to Washington State.
Tyson Jacobson, Camas, Fr., LS — Did not play.
Lewis & Clark
Alex Koga, Union, Sr., K — Went 2 for 2 on field goals, hitting from 37 and 18 yards in a 41-15 win over Puget Sound. Also kicked off five times, averaging 54.4 yards with one going out of bounds.
Nathan Lien, Evergreen, Jr., OL — Started at guard for an offense that gained 416 yards.
Royall Wilson, Evergreen, Fr., LB — Did not play.
Jack Warren, Heritage, Fr., LB — Did not play.
Linfield
Isaac Hoidal, Stevenson, Jr., WR — Did not play in a 41-34 win over Huntingdon.
Dawson Lieurance, Columbia River, Jr., QB — Did not play.
Des Phillips, Stevenson, Jr., CB — Had four tackles, including three solo, and one interception.
Sonny Pitts, Union, Fr., K/P — Did not play.
Griffin Young, Seton Catholic, So., TE — Did not play.
Montana
Peyton Brammer, Hockinson, Fr.*, TE — Played in a backup role in a 47-0 win over Northwestern State.
Cole Grossman, Skyview, So.*, TE — Started at tight end. Had one catch for 3 yards.
Michael Matthews, Camas, Sr.*, LB — Had one tackle.
Sawyer Racanelli, Hockinson, So.*, WR — Did not play.
Montana State
Bryce Leighton, Camas, So., P — Punted twice for an average of 51 yards, a long of 62 and one inside the 20 in a 40-17 win over McNeese State.
Rush Reimer, Camas, So., OL — Started at offensive tackle for an offense that gained 541 yards.
Montana Tech
Brevan Bea, Washougal, So.*, LB — Did not play in a 26-10 win over Carroll College.
Zeek Fromel, Mountain View, Sr., DL — Had three tackles.
Jack Hiller, La Center, Jr.*, OL — Played for an offense that gained 375 yards..
Montana State-Northern
Aidan Hoyt, Union, Jr., CB — Started at cornerback in a 56-6 loss to Southern Oregon. Had two tackles, including one solo, and one interception.
Nevada
Jacques Badolato-Birdsell, Camas, Fr.*, RB — Did not play in a 38-14 win over Texas State.
Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV)
Zyell Griffin, Evergreen, Jr., WR —
Northern Arizona
Alishawuan Taylor, Union, So.*, TE — Played in a backup role in a 40-3 loss to Arizona State.
Notre Dame
Tobias Merriweather, Union, Fr., WR — Did not play in a 21-10 loss to Ohio State.
Oregon
Andrew Boyle, Camas, Jr.*, K/P — Had two kickoffs for an average of 65 yards, one touchback and one tackle in a 49-3 loss to Georgia.
Oregon State
Jack Colletto, Camas, Sr.*, ILB/RB — Had three carries for 44 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown, in a 34-17 win over Boise State. Also had three tackles, including two solo, and one fumble recovery.
Pacific
Elijah Volk, Seton Catholic, Fr., RB — Did not play in a 42-21 loss to Chapman.
Pacific Lutheran
Zachary Gable, Mountain View, Fr., DL — Did not play in a 41-9 loss to Bethel.
Daymon Gressett, Woodland, Fr., FB — Did not play.
Portland State
Tanner Beaman, Skyview, Fr., TE/LB — Did not play in a 21-17 loss to San Jose State.
Darien Chase, Union, So., WR — Did not play.
Manaia Fuertes, Union, Fr.*, OL — Did not play.
Fyodor Henrichs-Tarasenkov, Skyview, Fr., K — Did not play.
Jaylynnee McGee, Skyview, So., RB — Had four carries for 20 yards and one catch for 5 yards.
Mason Packer, Skyview, Fr.*, ATH — Did not play.
Hezephaniah Po Ching, Skyview, Fr., OL — Did not play.
Rob Silva, Camas, Fr., DL — Did not play.
Jojo Siofele, Union, So., RB — Did not play.
Presentation College
Caleb Blick, Prairie, Fr., LB — Did not play in a 29-6 win over Luther College.
Josh Blick, Prairie, Fr., LB — Had one tackle.
Joseph Garrett, Prairie, So., WR — Did not play.
Puget Sound
Alex Fisch, Union, Fr., DL — Had one tackle in a 41-15 loss to Lewis and Clark.
Redlands
Connor French, Prairie, Jr., OL — Did not play in a 38-31 loss to George Fox.
Rochester
Gavin James-Dues, Mountain View, Fr., DL — Did not play in a 43-28 loss to Utica University.
Shasta College
Aiden Mallory, Hockinson, So., DB — Had one tackle in a 47-28 loss to Reedly College.
Simon Fraser
Lorenzo Brannon, Skyview, So., DL —
Robert Meadors, Heritage, Sr.*, WR —
Stetson
Hale Prior, Hockinson, Fr., LB — Played in a backup role in a 24-14 win over Concordia (Mich.).
Southern Cal
Caadyn Stephen, Camas, So.*, OL — Did not play in a 66-14 win over Rice.
Southern Oregon
Blake Ascuitto, Camas, So.*, QB — Started at quarterback in a 56-6 win over Montana State Northern. Completed 21 of 28 passes for 285 yards, four touchdowns (3, 5, 7, 74 yards) and one interception.
Jackson Clemmer, Camas, So.*, TE — Had two catches for 12 yards.
Kenyon Johnson, Hockinson, Fr., CB — Did not play.
Washington
Mason Wheeler, Skyview, So.*, WR — Did not play in a 45-20 win over Kent State.
Washington State
Jake Bowen, Union, Fr.*, WR — Did not play in a 24-17 win over Idaho.
Tristan Souza, Camas, So.*, DL — Did not play.
Drake Owen, Camas, Jr.*, WR — Played in a backup role.
Lincoln Victor, Union, Jr., WR — Had two catches for 25 yards.
Western Oregon
Jaylen Fite, Evergreen, Fr.*, WR — Did not play in a 41-5 loss to Weber State.
Rocky Mataia, Union, So., DL — Did not play.
Xavier Owens, Skyview, Fr.*, DB — Played in a backup role.
Daron Ulrich, Union, So., DB — Had three tackles, including one solo.
Whitworth
Micah Adams, La Center, Fr., DL — Did not play in a 35-17 loss to Carnegie Mellon.
Jack Gibson, Camas, Jr., DE — Did not play.
Isaiah Jones, Union, Jr., RB — Had two carries for 4 yards and four catches for 27 yards.
Anthony Kee, Heritage, Jr., WR — Played in a backup role.
Jackson Preston, Camas, So., LB —Did not play.
Cody Wheeler, Hockinson, Fr., LB —Did not play.
Did I miss anyone? E-mail sports editor Micah Rice at micah.rice@columbian.com.
