After the toughest loss of his career over the weekend, Zach Eagle gave himself some good news this week with a phone call to Eastern Washington University.
“I was kind of leaning toward them for a while,” Eagle said. “I decided to make it official.”
Eagle, a wide receiver for Camas High School, told EWU coach Beau Baldwin that he will sign with the Eagles in February.
The two also set up an official visit to the campus in January.
Eagle said his decision has to do with the relationship he has with all of the Eastern coaches he has met.
“I visited last spring. I went to their football camp in the summer. Throughout the season, they kept in contact with me,” Eagle said. “The relationship just continued to get better. I like it up there, and it’s the place I want to be.”
Eagle’s quarterback at Camas, Reilly Hennessey, also is an Eastern Washington commit.
“It doesn’t hurt that Reilly’s going there, but he wasn’t the main reason why,” Eagle said.
Eagle caught 65 passes for 1,282 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Papermakers to the Class 4A state championship game. He caught three touchdown passes in the state semifinals.
Eagle was injured in the first quarter of the title game after a 29-yard reception and did not play in the rest of the game.
He watched helplessly as Chiawana of Pasco scored two touchdowns in the final minute of the game to stun the Papermakers 27-26.
He and his teammates have been doing their best to support one another after such a difficult loss.
“Everyone’s been there for each other,” Eagle said.
The injury to his shoulder/collarbone area — a sprain to the joint between his sternum and clavicle — should heal within four to six weeks. It is not expected to affect his ability to play football.
It is, however, putting a hold on his basketball career. Eagle said he planned on playing this winter for the Papermakers. Now, that all depends on if he gets healthy in time to return.
Regardless, his college choice has been decided. Eagle said he expects to compete for time on special teams as a returner as well as play wide receiver for the Eagles.
