Eastern Washington suspends player who hit Oregon QB late

Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin said Tuesday that the team has suspended roverback John Kreifels for Saturday's game at Northern Iowa following his ejection from the Eagles' season-opening loss against Oregon.

Kreifels delivered a late hit to the head of Ducks quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. as he slid to the turf during the fourth quarter of Oregon's 61-42 win last weekend. Adams, Eastern Washington's starting quarterback for 2 1/2 seasons before he left this past offseason as a graduate transfer, left the game but later returned to the sideline.

Kreifels, a redshirt sophomore, was ejected for targeting. He later taunted the Autzen Stadium crowd from the sideline before being taken to the locker room by Eagles staff members. He has since apologized on social media for his actions.

Seventh-ranked Eastern Washington, the three-time defending Big Sky champion, will visit Missouri Valley power Northern Iowa, ranked 14th, in one of the top non-conference matchups of the FCS season.